Abstract
Assuming that a transcultural view of sibling rank and mental disorder might clarify discrepant East‐West observations and point the way towards universal hypotheses, the author, on the basis of work in Malaysia, discusses the range of psychological, social psychological, and physiological theories. He presents his own biphasic hypothesis, which proposes elevated vulnerability to mental disorder for oldest and youngest siblings. It reconciles universal family psychodynamics with cultural variables, opens a valuable new epidemiological approach to the problem, and refutes the view that sibling rank differences are merely birth rate artifacts. He also suggests areas of further research that might bridge the psychological‐physiological gap, and points out the social and educational implications of sibling rank differnces.
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