The sibling relationship is complicated. Some naturally tend to get along, while others tend to be at each other’s throat more often. Here are the most common reasons for tension among brothers and sisters.

THE NEED FOR SPACE

When you have a brother or sister, you must share your attention throughout your life. You don’t get the love and devotion you would if you were an only child. Siblings share bedrooms and bathrooms, not to mention your parent’s affection.

UNMET EXPECTATIONS

It’s only natural that spending so much time together can cause both a tight bond and issues. You learn to expect things from each other. For instance, if a group of kids is picking on you, your sibling should have your back.

FRUSTRATIONS

It’s frustrating when you don’t reach a goal you’ve set for yourself. The stress of life can be challenging, and you can take out your angst on those closest to you. In many cases, sibling rivalry is nothing more than misplaced anger from life’s woes.

CHANGING PHASES IN LIFE

Each person will go through various developmental phases throughout life. For instance, a four-year-old has different needs than a 13-year-old. By the time a child reaches the older teen years, their developmental needs are even more altered.

UNIQUE TEMPERAMENTS AND PERSONALITIES

Did you know that you not only have a unique personality, but you also have a distinct temperament? These differences will dictate how you approach life’s situations.

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IT’S A SAFE PLACE TO VENT

You get to choose your friends, but your relatives are something you can’t get rid of in life. Sibling rivalry is often steeped in the fact that they are ever-present. Many people feel safe letting their frustrations out on their siblings because they know they can’t leave even if they wanted to.

PROMOTING COMPETITION WITHIN THE GROUP

No sibling has the same skill set. While you may be good at football, your brother may excel at art. There can be constant competition in any group of kids, which is sometimes healthy. The key is that the differences should never be used to build one or destroy another.

JEALOUSY

While a little friendly competition can be healthy, having jealousy in the family is never beneficial. Envy can be there in early childhood, but it seems to grow as children get older. Parents must be careful never to foster these feelings, identify any potential issues, and immediately deal with them.

UNEQUAL TREATMENT AMONG THE GROUP

Parents always say that they don’t have any favorites among their children. However, that statement is not 100 percent truthful. Each child goes through different phases in life where they need the parent more than others.

ATTENTION SEEKING BEHAVIORS

One of the top reasons why sibling rivalry exists is because of the inherent attention-seeking nature to be noticed. If mom is spending more time with a daughter getting ready for a wedding, the brother who doesn’t even have a girlfriend feels left out.

What else could cause Sibling Rivalry?

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