Brother or sister?

Siblings shape the character less than expected

Created: 10/29/2022, 7:00 p.m

By: Laura Knops

Siblings shape personality significantly – right?

A recent study has now examined the influence of brothers and sisters on character.

Siblings can be best friends and support each other, or they can be complete opposites, constantly fighting and just not getting along.

Whether brother or sister, psychologists have long assumed that siblings have a huge influence on our personality.

But what about the common misconception that siblings play a crucial role in character development?

Researchers at the University of Leipzig have now investigated this in a current study.

Brother or sister?

Siblings shape the character less than expected

For the joint study by the Universities of Leipzig, Zurich and the Victoria University of Wellington in New Zealand, the scientists examined the data of more than 80,000 adults with siblings from nine countries - including the USA, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Germany, but also countries such as Australia, Mexico and China.

Information about living conditions and personality traits was analyzed, which was recorded systematically and over decades.

The results were published in the journal Psychological Science.

Siblings shape our personality?

Not necessarily, as a current study shows (symbol image).

© Imago

The research group led by Julia Rohrer from the University of Leipzig focused on two different hypotheses.

So far, scientists have assumed that the sex of the siblings and the birth order at least partially influence the personality of the children.

Older children are therefore considered to be more responsible and ambitious, while younger siblings usually remain the baby of the family for the rest of their lives.

Those who grow up with a brother or sister also seem to develop more characteristics that correspond to common gender stereotypes.

The current study now at least partially questions both theories.

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Brother or sister?

Siblings shape personality only minimally

The scientists found that the influence of brothers and sisters is significantly lower than previously thought.

The researchers could not confirm the widespread assumption that siblings have a positive effect on our personality.

Rather, growing up with siblings seems to affect our character only minimally.

The result is surprising for many: Important personality traits such as willingness to take risks, emotional stability, conscientiousness and patience do not seem to be influenced by the gender of the siblings.

So it doesn't matter if we grow up with a brother or a sister.

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"Our results refute the idea that growing up with brothers or sisters means that we develop certain personality traits in the long term that are considered typically female or typically male in a society," said study author Julia Rohrer from the University of Leipzig in a press release.

"All in all, the current study situation suggests that siblings have a surprisingly small influence on personality in adulthood," says Julia Rohrer.

It also makes no difference whether the siblings were older or younger.

Previous studies have already shown that the order – i.e. whether you are the firstborn or the baby – does not influence personality development.

This article only contains general information on the respective health topic and is therefore not intended for self-diagnosis, treatment or medication.

In no way does it replace a visit to the doctor.

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