Why is there sibling rivalry?
Posted on 02. Nov, 2010 by raiders1 in People
There are patterns in families that may help parents better understand how sibling rivalry is triggered. When
there is an intense close relationship between the mother and the first born, the first born tends to be very hostile towards a new baby. Then as the baby grows a little older then they are normally hostile towards each other.
First born boys are more likely to become withdrawn then girls when the new baby arrives. Children who withdraw whether it be a boy or a girl are less likely to show positive interest and affection for the new baby. In families where there can be a lot of confrontations between the mother and the first child before the birth of a sibling, the first child is more likely to behave in an irritating or interfering way toward the new baby.
When the first child has a close relationship with the father, there seems to be less hostility toward a new baby. Some parents prepare their first born for the coming of a new baby thinking that this will help which is not always the case, they do not tend to react any better then a child who was no prepared. Inside a family, girls are just as physically aggressive as boys. Physical punishment to the children can lead to an increase in violence between the children so it is not recommended. Parents tend to blame themselves for this but most of the time sibling rivalry is just a fact of life and can not be avoided.
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