The Birth Order Theory

So, I've done a little research on the Birth Order Theory, which basically just says that who you are in life depends upon when you were born. I'm going to lay out some of the information I found, and let you all be the judge.

The characteristics of the oldest sibling: The oldest sibling is the most independent and also the most responsible of the group. They are natural born leaders and can be control freaks. They strive for perfection, and thrive on approval of authority figures, like mom and dad. They tend to do well in school, their careers, and life in general. The oldest child is also the most likely to be the most successful of the bunch, and might make more money as an adult than other siblings. The first born might end up in an occupational area such as engineering, architecture, or accounting.

The characteristics of the middle child: The middle child, who feels deprived of attention worries about being over-looked, and tends to be the most rebelliant as a youngster. These people are the compromisers of the world, and enjoy pleasing others. They enjoy working in groups and feeling like they belong, and are good at making friends and getting along with others. These children tend to flock to occupations that are more people oriented than their older siblings.

The characteristics of the youngest sibling: The youngest child generally is the most artistic of the group. They are also most likely to be the class clown, since they will do just about anything for attention, and usually are characterized as the show-off of the family. The last born also tends to be a bad decision maker and a very impatient person who tends to get bored rather easily.

So which are you? The oldest most responsible sibling or the baby of the family? When I examined my own family, I have seven siblings, the theory was correct on some of my brothers and sisters, and way off on others.

I'm a middle child, born smack dab in the middle of the bunch, and I'm the perfectionist. I was the worst kid in the world, and I got in a lot of trouble as a teenager. I made friends easily, but not real friends, just people who liked to be around for the fun. I did go to nursing school, so I guess that I prefer occupations that center around people. I'd say the theory is about half right for me.

Anyone have any thoughts on the birth order theory? Any arguments or evidence that suggests that it is scientifically valid?