The Effects of Birth Order and Age of Target on Use of Persuasive Techniques

BRAGG, BARRY W. E.; OSTmawsIC , MARGARET V.; and FINLEY, CORDON E. The Effects of Birth Order and Age of Target on Use of Persuasive Techniques. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1973, 44, 351-354. It has been reported that first-borns employ more high-power persuasive techniques on their younger siblings, while later-borns employ more low-power persuasive techniques on their elder siblings. In these studies birth order and age of target have been confounded. The present study was designed to examine the relationship between birth order and the type of persuasive technique which will be used when age of target is varied independently. Firstand last-born subjects attempted to persuade an older, same aged, or younger target person to eat crackers. An analysis of the type and frequency of the different persuasive appeals indicated the major differences were due to the age of the target and not the birth order of the subject.