Siblings can have many differences in personality, intelligence, temperament, and achievements. While differences develop because of varying unique experiences and friendships, sibling deidentification is another explanation. Deidentification occurs when one sibling actively strives to be different from their brother or sister. This may be a tactic to avoid future sibling rivalry, and is a healthy way for children to highlight their own unique abilities and stop conflict within their families. This doesn’t mean parents should try to craft their children’s lives for them or encourage a pattern of superiority or inferiority between siblings. Teachers must also be aware of sibling deidentification and work to eliminate prejudice when teaching siblings of past students.
Read full article here: “Are You Sure You Are Siblings?” Sibling Deidentification
