The effects of psychological birth order on Goldberg\u27s big 5 personality traits

The purpose of this study was to explore whether or not birth order had any influence on personality traits. Based on the theories of Alfred Adler, that position in the family effects our perceptions and roles within the family, we surveyed seventy-two undergraduate students at Rowan University using two questionnaires. The first questionnaire was the Campbell-White PBOI which looks at the relationship between birth order and psychological birth order. The results of the questionnaire, using Pearson Chi Square, showed no significance between birth order and psychological birth order. The second questionnaire looked at birth order and the five personality traits of Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability and Intellect. Although there were some interesting trends that emerged, the overall findings did not support any link between birth order position and specific traits that have been ascribed to those positions