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Research Claims Second-Born Siblings Are More Likely To Be Troublemakers

Research Claims Second-Born Siblings Are More Likely To Be Troublemakers

Meh.

Mark McGowan

Mark McGowan

When it comes to siblings there always seems to be one who feels some kind of resentment towards the other.

If you're the second-born you'll most likely feel a deep lying, petty hatred towards your brother or sister, as they came along first.

When you popped out it had all been done before. First steps, it had been seen. First words, it had been witnessed. First birthday party, that's a thing of the past. Your older sibling had done it all first, so when it comes to you there's not much you can do to outdo them.

via GIPHY

As if that's not bad enough, there's a plethora of studies that claim the first-born is better at a lot of things. There are claims that they're cleverer and funnier, as well as a host of other desirable personality traits.

But according to new research second-born children now have an edge on their siblings. Admittedly, it is them being a bigger troublemaker, but you've got to take what you've got.

A report from Joseph Doyle, an MIT economist, finds that second-borns (particularly boys) are more likely to rebel and cause mischief.

Both Diaz brothers love a bit of trouble.

"The firstborn has role models, who are adults. And the second, later-born children have role models who are slightly irrational two-year-olds, you know, their older siblings," Doyle told NPR. "Both the parental investments are different, and the sibling influences probably contribute to these differences we see in the labor market and what we find in delinquency. It's just very difficult to separate those two things because they happen at the same time."

Both Noel and Liam Gallagher are proven troublemakers, but Noel was second-born after their brother Paul. Credit: PA

To find these results Doyle and his colleagues looked at thousands of sets of brothers in both the U.S. and Europe, finding that first-borns simply have their parents' undivided attention, whereas those born later have to compete for that attention.

Even if they get it, it's still shared between them and their sibling.

Because of this it was concluded that 25 to 40 percent are more likely to get in serious trouble at school or with the law.

Obviously this doesn't mean you're destined for a life of crime, it, well, erm - doesn't mean all that much, to be honest. Get back to living your normal life.

Featured Image Credit: PA