Effect of Birth Order and Perceived Stress on Social Schemata

Abstract

This experiment used the Felt Figure Technique developed by Kuethe in an attempt to investigate the relationship between birth order and the use of specific social schemata. Seven object sets were used, three two-figure sets and four three-figure sets. The results indicated that for the two-figure sets, firstborn individuals placed the figures closer together than laterborn individuals. For the three-figure sets, firstborn individuals under stress placed the figures closer together. The three-figure sets were also ordered in terms of the number of human figures in the object set. The results suggest that there is a measurable relationship between birth order and the social schemata used by an individual.