Why Siblings Make Each Other Better (And Younger Brothers Take More Risks)

From today's Wall Street Journal:

...This unusually exciting and aggressive style has helped Griffin become the first NBA rookie to be named to the All-Star game in 13 years. But it's also raised an interesting question: why does he play that way?...A study published last year in the Personality and Social Psychology Review may shed some light on all this. The study analyzed performance data on 700 brothers in Major League Baseball and found a major difference: younger brothers were more than ten times more likely to attempt the high-risk activity of base stealing and three times more likely to steal bases successfully. It also found younger brothers were more likely to allow themselves to be hit by pitches to get on base.One theory: risky behavior is a way for younger siblings to get attention and distinguish themselves, especially from someone who, for at least some period of time, has been the bigger and stronger competitor.The Griffin brothers seem to be a case study for this. "He kinda plays with a reckless abandon—that's probably the reason he's been so successful," Taylor said of his brother. "I'm a more conservative player, more methodical."

This rings true for me and my younger bro (he is the bigger risk taker and, I will actually confess it, the better athlete). And this is already ringing true as I observe how my oldest son and middle son approach life.