RESUMO
The purpose of this study was to investigate the idea of Adler, the Austrian Psychiatrist, that the psychological development of each child in a family is different from other due to ordinal position of birth of this child. He believed that a correct analysis of the effects of individual's birth order position would help to win his confidence. After literature review it was hypothesized i] the first born would score higher than middle and last born on the psychological need for Nurturance, Affiliation, Achievement and Dominance [2] The last born will score higher on psychological need for succorance than middle and first born. Institute of clinical Psychology, University of Karachi June 2008 to June 2009. Comparative Study. A sample of 66 students [44 male and 22 female] selected from University of Karachi. This sample consisted of 20 first born students, 28 second born and 18 last born students. The age range of sample was 20-35 years [mean age =23.09; SD=2.57] and their educational level was at least graduation. The Edwards Personal Preference Schedule [EPPS] Edwards administered to assess the individuals in fifteen needs or motives. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA was applied to analyze the data. It demonstrate the significant difference on only psychological need of succorance among the first, the middle and the last born students [p<.05]. On psychological need for Achievement, Affiliation, Dominance, Nurturance, there was an insignificant difference among the first, the middle and the last born. Present study highlighted the association between birth order and psychological needs for individual, and only need of succorance show the significant difference among three ordinal positions [i.e., first, middle and last], where as no difference was found on other pscychological needs in three groups