Siblings in Developmental and Clinical Research

Abstract

The early years of the study of developmental and clinical psychology has traditionally focused on the maternal bond as the foundation of socialization. However, during the latter part of the twentieth century, numerous efforts have been made at expanding our understanding of the circle of childhood influences. This reexamination of socialization dynamics introduced several lines of research on the role of other support providers including fathers, grandparents, and siblings. As a result, a steady stream of research on the predictors and outcomes of sibling relationship quality emerged over the past several decades in developmental, clinical, and family literature.