Summaries of the texts

Sibling rivalry is a common situation in most of the families with two or more children, yet its effects are not always given their due importance. For some, sibling aggression is seen as a normal part of childhood. They usually have a more relaxed take on children’s conflicts, considering them to be something natural that takes place in every household. Others believe that sibling rivalry is a matter that should be taken seriously by everyone, including the parents of the ones involved in the conflict. They believe that there is more to the story than meets the eye and that the conflicts that begin in childhood may have serious repercussions on adult life.

In these study notes, we will focus on three articles that deal with the topic of sibling rivalry. We will present the main ideas of each article, as well as the standpoints of each of the three authors in the given topic. Then, we will focus on both the positive and the negative aspects of sibling rivalry, as well as the parental response in the given situation. 

Text 1: "When the Bully Is a Sibling"

Author: Anahad O’Connor
Genre: Article
Year of Publication: 2013 (the article was published on the website of The New York Times)

The article focuses on the negative aspects of sibling rivalry, emphasising the emotional matters that may ensue from this situation. It is probably the most dramatic article of the three, as it presents the effects of sibling rivalry from a psychological point of view. The author focuses  on the impact  these rivalries can have on the future adult. As well as that, the author believes that nowadays’ society is making a big mistake when it tends to brush aside feuds between siblings. He states tha...