Sibling Victimization in Childhood

Abstract

Sibling aggression is a common occurrence in families, and more common than child maltreatment. Often sibling aggression is considered a normative experience and is equated to rivalry, but it is not, and it can take the form of bullying. There is a small but growing literature on sibling victimization that shows its detrimental effects on children. This entry explores why sibling victimization happens and makes distinctions between constructive and destructive sibling conflict. The links between sibling victimization and mental health and peer victimization are described, and possible differences in norms regarding siblings' aggressive interactions by ethnicity are noted.