Your birth order can influence your relationships and how people interact with you. Whether you’re the eldest, youngest, or somewhere in between, each birth order plays a role in how people see you and how you interact with those around you. As a result, your position in the family can make you seem more approachable, trustworthy, and safe for those with whom you interact. Understanding how your place in the family can shape the way people view you can help you better understand yourself and how you relate to others.
What is Birth Order?
Birth order refers to the position you hold in your family, based on the order in which you were born. This is typically broken down into first-born, second-born, middle, and youngest. Within each of these categories, there may be sub-categories depending on the size of your family and the genders of the children. For example, if you are the eldest of two girls, you have a different position within your family compared to if you were the eldest of two boys or of a larger family.
How Your Birth Order Can Make Others Feel Safe Around You
Your birth order can influence how others perceive you and how they interact with you. Those around you may recognize particular traits in your personality and behavior due to your birth order and draw conclusions about how you interact with them. Let’s take a look at how each birth order type may be perceived by those around you and how it can make them feel safe.
First-born
First-borns are often seen as the most responsible, reliable, and dependable of the bunch. As a result, those around you may place you in a position of authority due to these perceived traits and will look to you as a leader. As a result, those around you may feel comfortable and safe enough to come to you for guidance or help.
Second-born
Second-borns are typically seen as creative, free-spirited, and rebellious in comparison to their first-born sibling. Although these may be seen as negative traits, the positive side can be that those around you recognize that you have an open mind. This openness can make them feel like they can talk to you without fear of being judged or ridiculed, helping them to feel safe.
Middle
Middles may receive a bad rap for being the ‘forgotten’ child, but this is far from the truth. Those around you may see you as adaptable and independent due to your position as an overlooked middle child. As you have become accustomed to navigating life without making too much of a stir, people may feel it’s safe to turn to you in any situation to seek advice and support.
Youngest
Youngest children are often portrayed as cute, but they also possess an innate sense of street smarts. As a result, those around you may recognize that you have a more mature outlook on life even in comparison to older siblings. People may feel safe around you since you can understand the world in a way that those much older than you may not.
Benefits of Feeling Safe Around You
Having people feel safe around you serves many aspects of your life and relationships. First and foremost, feeling safe enables people to be more open and transparent with you, meaning you can build stronger relationships with those in your life. Additionally, making those around you feel safe may portray you as someone who is trustworthy, honest and reliable. Finally, people who feel safe around you will be more likely to remember you and seek you out in future situations.
Understanding Your Birth Order
Understanding how your birth order can influence how others view you and interact with you is an important step to developing strong relationships and building a supportive network. At the end of the day, birth order can and does play a role in how approachable and trustworthy you seem, meaning it can have a tremendous effect on how safe people feel around you. Keeping this in mind, you can use your position in the family to your advantage and work towards developing strong and supportive relationships.
