Effects Of Birth-order Composition On The Intial, Same-sex Interactions Of Young Adults

Abstract

Using both individual- and dyad-level analyses, this study investigated the effects of birth order on the initial, same-sex interactions of young adults. One hundred eighteen students (59 dyads) participated in initial, unstructured dyadic interactions while being unobtrusively audio- and videotaped. Following their interaction, the dyad members independently completed three self-report questionnaires about their interactions with their dyadic partner and about their familial and social relationships growing up. Three theories informed my predictions about birth order influences in these initial interactions: the Family Constellation Theory, the Observational Learning Theory, and the Trait Theory. In contrast to a previous study of mixed-sex interactions (Ickes and Turner, 1984), Family Constellation Theory received at least a modicum of support in the present study of same-sex interactions but only for a composite measure of interactional involvement and not for any measures of specific interaction behaviors.