Ambivalence and the Last-Born
Birth-Order Position in Convention and Myth
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 2572142 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Michael P Jackson (corresponding author), Michael Jackson (0009-0009-5104-7646) |
| Year | 1978 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 341 |
| Publication date | 1978-09-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Man (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0025-1496 • E-ISSN: 2397-2548 |
| Publisher | JSTOR (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.2307/2801934 |
| OpenAlex | W2289181813 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 15 |
| References cited | 14 |
This article examines the complex relationship between birth order and cultural perceptions of ambivalence, focusing on the last-born child. Jackson challenges the conventional view of the last-born as spoiled or rebellious, arguing that anthropological literature reveals a more nuanced picture. He explores cross-cultural examples and myths to demonstrate how the last-born is often associated with both positive and negative attributes, embodying contradictions and mediating between opposing forces within the family and society. The last-born's perceived liminality and potential for disruption are linked to their position at the 'end' of the sibling sequence, a position that can be interpreted as both marginal and transformative
Ambivalence · Art · Convention · Economics · Literature · Mythology · Order (exchange · Political science · Position (finance · Psychoanalysis · Anthropological Studies and Insights · Law · Medieval Literature and History · Psychology
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| Unique citing works | 15 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,33 |
| Citation span | 1981 - 2025 (45) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 15 |