Sibling Aggression by Jonathan Caspi

Author:Jonathan Caspi
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Sibling Aggression
Publisher: Springer Publishing Company
Published: 2011-09-10T00:00:00+00:00

Parent coalitions with older siblings

Older children in conflict with their younger siblings have the advantage of size, strength, and usually higher cognitive sophistication. They are likely to use these benefits when frustrated, resentful, or wanting to meet their personal objectives. Without parental intervention to teach and uphold prosocial sibling behavior, older children are likely to feel free to be aggressive. Moreover, parents who ally with olders against youngers give tacit permission to be aggressive without consequence. For example, Sam has complained on multiple occasions that his older sister Stacy hits him. His father’s common response is, “You probably deserved it,” while his mother nods in agreement. Stacy knows she can hit Sam freely and that Sam has no recourse or ability to protect himself.

A variation of parent–older child coalitions involves younger children perpetrating aggression with older siblings because they know the older child is highly rule abiding. Children are often anxious about disappointing their parents and violating their rules, so they refrain from retaliating. In cases in which the older children are favored, concern about maintaining their advantaged position may prevent them from engaging in violence. Younger children may learn through trial and error that they can attack an older and not worry about the older striking back.

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