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Cited by 135Family Dynamics and RelationshipsChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentAttachment and Relationship Dynamics

Why Are Siblings So Different? The Significance of Differences in Sibling Experiences Within the Family

DUNN, JUDY, PLOMIN, ROBERT·1991·Family Process
DOI 10.1111/j.1545-5300.1991.00271.x
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Abstract

Siblings, who are 50% similar genetically and grow up within the same family, nevertheless differ markedly in personality and psychopathology, and most of these sibling differences cannot be explained by genetic factors. These findings from the field of behavioral genetics imply that within-family processes that lead to sibling differences, called nonshared environment, are crucial for understanding environmental influences on individual development. Such nonshared environmental influences cannot be identified by the conventional strategy of comparing one child per family on a family-by-family basis; what is needed are studies of siblings that focus on why they are so different. The implications of these findings for investigating family process are outlined, and research is reviewed that explores the extent to which siblings in a family have different experiences, and that begins to assess links between such differential experiences and developmental outcomes.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1545-5300.1991.00271.x

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  • From a behavioral genetics perspective, children raised in the same household have shared and non-shared experiences and biological vulnerabilities (genetic predispositions) that are important considerations in understanding the consequences of parentification.

    “Further, from a behavioral genetics perspective [169], children raised in the same household have shared and non-shared experiences and biological vulnerabilities (genetic predispositions) that are important considerations in understanding the consequences of parentification.”

    From Parentification Vulnerability, Reactivity, Resilience, and Thriving: A Mixed Methods Systematic Literature Review (2023) · cites this paper as [169]

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Authors
DUNN, J., & PLOMIN, R.
Affiliations
Pennsylvania State University (US)
ORCID
PLOMIN, ROBERT
Venue
Family Process
Publisher
Wiley
Published
1991-09
Volume
30
Issue
3
Pages
271-283
ISSN
  • 0014-7370 (ISSN-L)
  • 1545-5300
DOI
10.1111/j.1545-5300.1991.00271.x
OpenAlex
W2134397000
Cited by
135
References
30
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 3
FWCI
2.53
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 4716 d)
Locations
  • Family Process (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r03mh046535-02)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (MH46535-01)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD 10333, HD23158, R01HD010333)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Keywords
sibling differences, nonshared environment, siblings' experiences, personality development, psychopathology, behavioral genetics, environmental influences on development
MeSH terms
Family, Genetics, Behavioral, Humans, Individuality, Parent-Child Relations, Research, Sibling Relations, Social Environment

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