Middle Child Syndrome

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‘Is Middle Child Syndrome A Real Thing?

It is difficult to determine whether or not middle child syndrome is a real thing, but the fact remains that many middle children share the same experiences and feelings. Dr. Alfred Adler’s theory is the closest we can come to proving the existence of middle child syndrome, believing that birth order has a significant effect on psychological development. 

While one cannot say for sure whether or not middle child syndrome is a concrete phenomenon, and that all middle children experience the same issues, there are more than enough middle children who experience the same thing, to encourage the theory that birth order plays a part, and that middle child syndrome does come into play.

Every family has its unique dynamics, and many other factors go into determining a child’s personality traits and characteristics but being the middle child does seem to affect this, and middle children are often left trying to find their place in their family.

• Middle children often feel like they are lost in their older sibling’s shadow. Falling between two other children, they might end up feeling frustrated and misunderstood. This could lead to them seeking attention in other ways or looking to rebel.

• Feeling overshadowed by their older sibling, and less coddled than their younger sibling, middle children tend to be even-tempered and keep to themselves within the family.

• The extent of middle child syndrome does differ between families, and in extreme cases, the child might develop feelings of unworthiness, become unsocial and withdrawn, and even develop low self-esteem.

• It is also fairly common for middle children to feel as though they are not their parents’ favourite child, and even if parents reassure their children that there are no favourites, this feeling often lingers.

• Middle children tend to be mild-mannered and more agreeable, stemming from a need to compromise throughout their life, juggling between the older sibling and the younger one.

• However, feeling as though they do not fit in within their own family structure, they could also look to keep a close group of friends, where they feel as though they have a place.

• Middle children often have good social skills, valuing the relationships they form and being able to get along with many different personality types. Being a middle child sometimes comes with its benefits!

The Middle Child Stereotype - The stereotype of the middle child is often a rebellious one. Not able to find their place in the family, constantly feeling overshadowed by the older sibling, and pushed aside by the younger one, they try to draw attention to themselves in a different way.

A middle child might look for an identity they can hold on to, which helps them stand out. This could often present as misbehaviour, or later on, it could show up as purple-dyed hair or an obsession with a band. This gives them a feeling of having their own place and knowing where they might fit in.

This stereotype also extends to the middle child being a social butterfly, spending less time with their family, and instead of finding comfort from a group of friends and not at home.’ (Source)

Let’s continue - What Is Youngest Child Syndrome?

Start at the beginning – Tiffi learns all about birth order