Understand what experts say about middle child syndrome: including strengths like adaptability and diplomacy.
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What is middle child syndrome?
Essentially, though not a clinically recognized disorder, middle child syndrome revolves around a sense of familial separateness.
Middle child syndrome starts when you feel like you disappear between your siblings, saysMelissa Divaris Thompson, LMFT.
But, that sense can lead to something more complex and interesting beyond feeling ignored and brace-faced.
Chicago-based psychotherapist
Whats the science behind middle child syndrome?
How does birth order affect personality?
Qualities of middle children
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Career in politics, anyone?
6 common characteristics of middle child syndrome
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Oldest, youngest, and only children often have very defined roles, says Dr. Daramus.
The middle child often develops in reaction to the defined identities of the others.
And while this isnt an automatic trait, its something interesting to consider.
Thats big middle child syndrome energy.
Chicago-based psychotherapist
Stronger external social ties
That feeling of being passed over doesnt necessarily mean the middle child is alone.
In fact, they usually foster more and stronger relationships outside of their family circle.
With their friends, they get to be more than just somebody elses sibling.
Consider Lisa Simpson again, a straight-A student whose troublemaking brother gets celebrated for his D+ average.
For every middle child experiencing burnout, theres a Bart who made it that much harder to shine.
How can middle child syndrome affect adults?
It can leave many adults feeling like theyre invisible and not special, says Thompson.
They can always have this feeling that someone else would be better.
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