Part II    Psychodynamic Theories94
only children may lack well-developed feelings of cooperation and social interest, pos -
sess a parasitic attitude, and expect other people to pamper and  protect them. Typical 
positive and negative traits of oldest, second, youngest, and only children are shown 
in Table 3.2.
Early Recollections
To gain an understanding of patients’ personality, Adler would ask them to reveal 
their early recollections  (ERs). Although he believed that the recalled memories yield 
clues for understanding patients’ style of life, he did not consider these  memories 
to have a causal effect. Whether the recalled experiences correspond with objective 
reality or are complete fantasies is of no importance. People reconstruct the events to 
make them consistent with a theme or pattern that runs throughout their lives.
Adler (1929/1969, 1931) insisted that early recollections are always consistent 
with people’s present style of life and that their subjective account of these experiences TABLE 3.2
Adler’s View of Some Possible Traits by Birth Order
Positive Traits  Negative Traits
Oldest Child
Second ChildHighly anxious
Exaggerated feelings of power
Unconscious hostility
Fights for acceptance
Must always be “right,” whereas others 
are always “wrong”
Highly critical of others
UncooperativeNurturing and protective of others
Good organizer
Highly motivated
Cooperative
Moderately competitiveHighly competitive
Easily discouraged
Realistically ambitious Pampered style of life
Dependent on others
Wants to excel in everything
Unrealistically ambitious
Socially mature Exaggerated feelings of superiority
Low feelings of cooperation
Inflated sense of self
Pampered style of lifeYoungest Child
Only Child
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