Personal Written Response 1

Based on "How Your Birth Order Influences Your Life Adjustment" by Lucille K. Forer.

Forer's discussion is somehow interesting because in fact we barely define people's characteristics by their birth order in their families. However, there are some points which need to be reevaluated. In line 75, Forer says, "The oldest tends to expect other people to be relatively less capable." I am the oldest child and I am totally disagree with the statement. As the first child, I tend to help my siblings. However, I really hope my siblings can do their stuffs by themselves. Moreover, the expectation to my siblings also applies to the other people. In my opinion, people should not be a will-o' the-wisp. Rather, they have to be reliable. To be the person who can be depended on, they have to think that they are capable. Although this is just a personal opinion, to think again, wouldn't it better if all the children can be the independent one?

Forer's discussion is implausible for some cases. It looks like Forer just evaluates things from the ideal family which is harmonious and peaceful. If we use Forer's discussion to evaluate children from disfunctional families, it will not be an accurate measure to analyze their children characteristics. Maybe the only child and the older child still suit in discussion, but the younger child will be more independent than Forer's idea that the youngest child tends to think, "I am less able to do many things than other people," because the situation pushes them to be more than they think. Otherwise families who live under circumstances. We usually hear or read news how poor families survive by depending on their working children. At this rate, all the children, both the younger and the older, are independent based on their self recognition from the situation. Both cases imply that Forer's discussion is accurate conditionally.

Another Forer's missing point is gender. Sons are naturally more reliable than daughters. Although the boy is the middle or the youngest child, if he is the only boy among his siblings, the parents rely more on their son. It also applies to the only daughter who tends to get more affection though she is the oldest or the middle child. In conclusion, life adjustment is not only determined by child's birth order, but also the internal factors such as gender and several external factors like environment and surroundings.