Ordinal Position, Family Size, and Assertiveness
The relationship between birth order, family size, and assertiveness was investigated for 140 college students. No significant differences on assertiveness among the males categorized for birth order and family size were found. Female firstborns and females from families with 3 or fewer siblings were significantly higher in assertiveness scores than laterborn females and females from larger families. Sex-role identification stressing assertiveness was used to explain lack of differences among males. The newer emphasis on sex roles stressing achievement and assertive behavior was a possible explanation for differences among females related to ordinal position and family size.