Relationships Between Siblings And Siblings

Today in America, an estimated 80% of the population has at least one sibling. While it is true that no two families are identical, the relationship between siblings plays a central role in their development and growth. Younger siblings for example, might be prone to mimic the actions of their older siblings, viewing their older siblings as faultless and heroic figures. On the other hand, older siblings are often viewed as authority figures and are seldom questioned. They might develop as friends with an inseparable bond or as bitter rivals seeking supremacy over the others. Regardless of the nature of their relationship, siblings that share a household are forced to interact with each other more than any other friend or family member. Sibling

Many factors can affect the effectiveness of relational maintenance within sibling relationships, such as effort to maintain relationships, age of siblings, and how related they are among other things. In romantic relationships, individuals may experience a higher level of satisfaction within a relationship if their partners’ use of relational maintenance tactics compares favorably to their own (Dainton, 2000). It is possible for this to also be the case for adult sibling relationships since these would be life-long relationships that one would be born into instead of relationships one would form by choice and at any point of their lives. However, those involved in romantic relationships may not experience a greater level of relational satisfaction from relational maintenance the longer there are involved in a relationship. Whether or not this is also the case for adult siblings is an interesting question as there are a variety of factors that can positively or negatively affect their relationships over the course of time. These would include involvement with each other’s families, geographic distance, and continued involvement with parents among other factors. The current amount of relational satisfaction between adult siblings can be compared to that of when they were children; and can also be compared between adult siblings at different stages of their adult life.

This leads to the real question at hand being what effects do siblings have on one another. This question needs to be answered in order for society to have at least some understanding of how children will shape into the adults that will one day be running the country. Children are after all the future. There have been various researches done on the effects of siblings.

Growing up with them, means that their lives are often guided by the same events that the other is. Therefore, siblings are an important part of an emotional support system and learning to work with peers (Brody 125). Danielle has two siblings, a twin named Julianne and her older sister, Katie, who just graduated from college. Older siblings teach by example, often whatever they do their younger siblings repeat. Danielle said, “Katie was the head honcho, both Julianne and I would want to hang out with her. She would pick her favorite twin of the day, which was completely unfair (White).” Sibling relationships help children learn how to solve conflicts between peers, however, this can depend on how close they are (Brody 124). Ages can affect how close siblings are. The more that children can relate to each other, the better the relationship. Both siblings are very close to Danielle, since they lived in the same house and shared many experiences with each other. Danielle described herself as an open-minded person, which could contribute to having siblings (White). Younger siblings become sensitive to other people’s feelings and beliefs. Siblings can also have negative effects on childhood growth. Parents will often change their parental strategies after seeing the behaviors of their older child. Sometimes these behaviors can also determine how younger siblings are seen by other adults, including teachers (Brody 125). Danielle told me about a teacher that she had in high school that didn’t like her because the teacher had not liked her older sister, Katie (White). Sibling relationships are an essential part of childhood, often determining how they interact with those around

As regards to sibling relationship, Kastenbaum (1993) described it as the relation of two or more individuals with the same biological parents. That relation also includes how these individuals act together concerning their awareness, insights, thoughts and feelings regarding each other.

Having siblings can be both a good thing and bad thing. In “Seven Ways Your Siblings May Have Shaped You” By Lindsay Lyon the article was about different situations that I or anyone of us may have experienced when having a sibling in life. “How Our Siblings Shape Us” by Naomi Schaefer Riley is about both the good and bad things about having a sibling and what I or you might or may have experienced. Whether you have an older sibling or a younger sibling, scientific facts, as well as personal experience, show that having a sibling can strongly affect you in the long run. Some of the things that can or may strongly affect me, you and your siblings are success, relationships, and rivalries.

Siblings will almost certainly be different. Each is unique in his/her own special way. This uniqueness will occasionally clash; thereby, causing what is often referred to as sibling rivalry. This individuality, in some instance, may not necessarily divest the relationship, but rather enrich it. James Baldwin somehow managed to convey this theory in his highly celebrated masterpiece, Sonny’s Blues. The story focuses on the lives of two exceedingly different brothers, one who live to abide by society’s laws while the other has fallen victim to its circumstances.

They are your competition, yet they support you. They are your enemy, yet when it comes down to it you end up fighting side by side. They hate you, yet love you more than words could say. Sibling relationships are among the most complicated and confusing things to understand. Complex sibling relationships are seen everywhere, whether you are reading or watching televison.

There’s evidence that the presence of a sibling can help a child’s adaptation in many stressful situations and that sibling relationships remain important sources of support through childhood and adulthood. (Rebecca, Children and Youth Services Review) Sonya Leathers, an associate professor from the University of Illinois is an expert in child welfare/behavior. In one of her studies she stated “Brothers and sisters provide emotional support, comfort, and a sense of stability, belonging, and continuity. They may serve as allies, confidants, companions, and sources of love.”

A sibling may help help you, but some have a special way of doing it. This is like the relationship between Darry and Ponyboy in S. E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. The Outsiders is about 3 boys, Darrold, Sodapop, and Ponyboy, and their friends as well. These boys are what are known as Greasers: low income kids who mostly belong to broken households. They are enemies with the Socs: people who jump greasers, and are the exact opposite of them.

In fact, our differences lead to unity in times of outer conflict. According to the article “Theoretical Perspectives on Sibling Relationships,” “as siblings mature, they become more responsible to the needs of one another” (Whiteman, Shawn D., Susan M. McHale, and Anna Soli). That is true for me and my sister. As we’ve grown older, we have learned to resolve our differences and focus on building our relationship as adults. We may be opposites in interests, but our polarity draws us closer together. Though our conversations still resemble those of Laura and Lizzie--“Lizzie with an open heart, Laura in an absent dream” (209-211)-- we now confide in one another with secrets that we would not dare tell anyone

Siblings influence development in a variety of ways by providing teaching and caregiving opportunities that result in greater cognitive, language, and psychosocial development in both older and younger siblings (Jenkins, 1989). Specifically, sibling relationships that depict a balance of nurturance and conflict have been found to provide children with learning opportunities that lead to greater perspective taking skills, different strategies to resolve conflict, as well as regulate their own emotions (Volling, McElwain, & Miller, 2002). For example, younger siblings have been found to be more socially skilled and have more positive peer relationships compared to children who lack the sibling experience (Volling et al., 2002).

“Sibling relationships in particular are among the longest lasting and most influential relationships in an individual’s lifetime” (Shalash 288). Relationships with siblings definitely affects emotions. Emotions vary when it comes to siblings; they can range from anger and jealousy to joy and gratefulness. Siblings can go from calm and loving while spending time together to fighting physically or verbally within moments. With multiple siblings, favorites are often chosen by parents or siblings so the other siblings may feel like an outcast. When two families are combined different routines can cause great conflict. If a child faces conflicts continuously with their family it can make complications for their love life.

An intense relationship includes love and hate, play and fight, and the teasing and mocking of each other. In addition, aggressive relationships where the oldest child can be the one who is always coming down on the younger ones because of their age can lead to many problems amongst the family. It has been reported that aggression is very frequent in sibling relationships. In one study, 29% of behavior observed between siblings was hostile. There are many siblings that take their aggression to the extremes and others who go through phases and then end in a close, loving relationship. All rivalry is

The family unit across the globe is valued by almost all cultures as the most important social structure in which humans form the tightest bonds. Now significant evidence to suggest that within the family structure the relationship and interaction between siblings is the most impactful relationship of a human’s lifetime. Researchers have only recently become interested in the unique relationship between siblings. Siblings have been found to advance one another’s social, emotional, and cognitive development (Mcguire and Shanahan, 2010). Researchers are now are posing the question, “Are our relationships with our siblings the most important of all?”