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However, middle children also have a rebellious streak. At least, that's the case if the oldest sibling is structured and responsible. If the eldest is a rebel, the middle child might be the responsible one. Kevin Leman, Ph.D., explains that middle children are hard to pin down because they often play off the eldest sibling. So, in a sense, middle children might try to be as different from the eldest as possible.
There's one more interesting trait that many middle children share: being most likely to remain faithful in marriage. Dr. Leman told Business Insider that since middle kids are so good at compromising and negotiating, they make their marriages work. Middle children also tend to be satisfied with marriage in general.
Actual research on the topic of birth order and common personality traits is contradicting. There are studies that show middle children are more likely to engage in delinquent behavior. On the other hand, other researchers found that middle children can be prone to maladaptive perfectionism. And a 2015 study concluded that there is no "lasting effect" of birth order on "broad personality traits."
Ultimately, birth order doesn't dictate every facet of your personality. I, too, would love to believe that all my bad habits and traits are a result of my parents deciding to conceive me second. However, there are many more factors at play: financial, social, even geographical. Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., and Bill Gates were also middle children. And if the middle child syndrome is real, I feel like I'm in good company!
