Birth Order and Sibling Relationships

Paper Summary:

This paper examines how a child's birth order determines the expectations placed upon him or her by the parents and how these expectations, or lack thereof, impact the relationship that siblings have with one and other. It also looks at how studies of blended, or "step" families, as well as sibling groups separated by the foster care system, underscore how birth order effects the relationship individuals have with their siblings under circumstances that are less than ideal.

From the Paper:

"In families that do remain intact and non-dysfunctional, the parents' treatment of their offspring due to birth order, impacts not only the self-image of the individual child, but the manner by which they relate to their siblings. Parents often encourage competition and comparisons among siblings, with the misperception that encourages their children to work harder and become more successful. This has proved time and time again not to be the case. Siblings have been shown to avoid active participation in activities in which another sibling does well, especially if they are close in age."

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