I didn't know how influential parents are in developing a child's conflict management style, and how sibling relationships establish a base for social development. So, if parents show kids to fight it out until someone wins, this is how they tend to deal with conflicts with others later on in life. My mom never showed me to confront and deal with conflict; she showed me to avoid.
~ Student in Managing Organizational Conflict

Edited by Melissa Zarda. See other bibliographies.
Contributors: Betsy Robles-Mayuri

Copyright restriction: The contents of this bibliography may not be placed on other websites, but links from other websites may be directed to this page. Hardcopies of this page may be printed for academic purposes.

• Abramovitz, Melissa. (2001, December). How to deal with sibling rivalry.
  Current Health 1. (Vol.25, p. 20)

Sibling rivalry is the natural conflict that happens between brothers and sisters, and it occurs in almost all families with more than one child. In this article for children, the author discusses sibling rivalry and how children can prevent and control sibling conflicts.

• Boyle, William A., Ph.D., (1999). Sibling rivalry and why everyone should care about this age-old problem.

Dr. Boyle begins his article by using historical references such as Cain and Abel to establish sibling rivalry as being one of "humanity's oldest problems". He states conflict arises amongst siblings when they compete for limited resources such as attention, time, love and approval. The article explains that every time a new child is born into a family these resources are even scarcer and the tension can impact a child's social development. He goes on to say children tend to develop tactics on their own to protect themselves from sibling attacks and how these tactics are taken with them into adulthood.

• Cupach, William R. & Canary, Daniel J.& Vuchinich, Sam & Messman, Susan J. (2007). Conflict - Couple Relationships, Family Relationships, Parent-Child Relationships.

The text is comprised of three articles that relate directly to each other. The authors do an outstanding job of taking the reader thru the many stages and variations of conflict that occurs in a family, specifically making reference to children. The article stresses the influence that parents, especially mothers, have on the development of conflict management behaviors in children and how a child's conflict style is developed in the early stages of their life. This conflict style plays a critical role in the relationship each child has with their siblings.

• Ezzo, Gary, (2005). Sibling Conflict: How to prevent it.

Gary Ezzo describes how children have conflict with their siblings not because of differences of ideas but a lack of maturity to handle their differences. He also explains the terms "sibling rivalry" and "sibling conflict" and how the two are not the same. The article then goes into suggestions for parents of how to teach their children to resolve their own conflicts by respecting each other, having self-control and have compassion.

• Howe, Nina & Rinaldi, Christina; Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, Vol. 44, (1998). Siblings' reports of conflict and the quality of their relationships.

This article is based on studies done to understand the differences between conflict resolution strategies (constructive vs. destructive). For years, sibling conflict has been discussed as a stage kids will grow out of; however this article shows proven effects on how a child's social development is altered because of these experiences and how they are taught to deal with conflict at an early age. The authors discuss conflict styles amongst siblings and how these situations teach them to manipulate, avoid, negotiate, problem-solve, amongst others in the future.

• Keith, Kimberly L., (2007). Coping with Sibling Conflict.

In this article the author describes specific situations where conflict may arise amongst siblings and how to deal with each. The author describes a mediation strategy that includes, understanding individual child's needs and helping them work thru the problem yet also emphasizes the importance of allowing the siblings to work thru the conflict themselves using negotiations strategies, brainstorming and respecting the other.

• Kiselica, Mark S. & Morrill-Richards, Mandy. (2007, Spring) Sibling Maltreatment: The Forgotten Abuse. Journal of Counseling & Development. (Vol. 85, p148-160)
  

Sibling abuse and its prevalence in the family have largely been overlooked. In this article, the major issues associated with sibling maltreatment are highlighted, and strategies for helping the victims and perpetrators of sibling abuse and their families are described.

• Lachs, Mark S. & Boyer, Pamela . (2003, Aug.) When rivalry won't die. Prevention. (Vol. 55, p. 167)
  

The authors comment on the need to address the causes and resolve sibling rivalries. All the resentments one brings from childhood, such as bad feelings stemming from perceived slights and parental favoritism, may be carried far worse into adulthood.

• McHale, Susan M, Updegrff, Kimberly A., Tucker, Corinna J. & Crouter, Ann C. (2000, Aug.). Step in or stay out? Parents' roles in adolescent siblings' relationships. Journal of Marriage and the Family. (Vol. 62, p. 746).
  

These authors studied parents' direct involvement in adolescent sibling relationships, including parents' reactions to sibling conflict and their time spent in the company of the sibling conflict.

• Perozynski, Lisa & Kramer, Laurie. (1999, Mar) Parental beliefs about managing sibling conflict. Developmental Psychology. (Vol. 35, p489)
  

This article examines parents' beliefs about the most effective ways to manage sibling conflict. It includes parents' responses to their children's spontaneous sibling conflicts; as well as mothers' and fathers' use of control strategies.