Cho Sueng-Hui and the Columbine killers were all the younger of two children in their families. Significant?

All of them had a "golden" elder sibling who was unusually talented and accomplished. So did Kip Kinkel, who carried out a school shooting in Oregon in 1998. Any thoughts on this?

Cho Sueng-Hui and the Columbine killers were all the younger of two children in their families. Significant?
Psychologists have long believed that people are effected by their "birth order". Of course, its a generalization and not proven to ALWAYS be correct, it does seem to hold some water.





Typically, the oldest child is the most responsible as they usually are the ones helping to raise the other children. They also tend to be more modest and grounded, mature because they are first. The parents are doing everything for the first time with the first child. The first laugh, the first spanking (or punishment). The oldest child paves the road and "breaks" the parents in for the rest of the children.





The youngest child can go one of 2 ways. They are either doted upon because they are the baby and, therefore, have many difficulties in making it on their own, or they may be ignored (as the parents may have already raised a few children) and thus stronger due to fending for themselves most of their lives.





Then you have what is most likely the hardest position, the middle child. The middle child is often the one who needs to prove him or herself the most. They are not the oldest, they are not the baby. They are just there and most strive for the attention of the parents. It is usually the middle child that gets lost in the mix. (I also happen to believe that the sex of each child plays a role, too, in how much attention they get).





However, in the instance of the people you mention above, there are only 2 children in each family. I would say that the ego of a child living in the shadow of the perfect older sibling is pretty mutilated. Always being compared, never living up to what "your brother" did. It most likely causes a severe inward turn of emotions and a hatred for ones family. In my opinion, if you lose the love for your family, you may as well be empty inside. Family is blood, and that blood makes or breaks you.
Reply:With you on that one already.





And note that they're almost always males, younger, physically smaller a lot of times, socially awkward beyond usual, and (bluntly) don't get any action.
Reply:You might be on to something.
Reply:I always heard that the youngest are usually underachievers who feel they can never live up to their older siblings. Though they may the the 'babies' of the family they never really receive encouragement and push that the older siblings receive. Though there are a lot of spoiled babies of the families who never commit this kind of massacre. There is something seriously wrong with these people besides being the youngest.