PERCEPTION OF CHILDHOOD PARENTAL FAVORITISM AND ADULT SIBLING RELATIONSHIPS ~ A PILOT STUDY

Irem Bray M.Sc.

This study investigated two hypotheses:

1) Perceiving parental favoritism in the past would have an influence on adults' sibling relationships

2) The perception of favoritism will be correlated with a particular attachment style The sample consisted of 25 native English speakers whose parents had stayed together at least until the subjects' 20th birthday. Subjects were identified through a screening questionnaire where they also answered questions concerning parents relative treatment of the siblings in childhood. On the basis of these answers they were allocated to one of two conditions, favoritism (n=12) or no favoritism (n=13). Subjects were then interviewed to elicit information about their current relationship with a target sibling using the Close Relationship Scale. Then they completed the Reciprocal Attachment Questionnaire; to identify their present attachment patterns.

Although the main comparisons were between the favoritism and no favoritism groups, the real difference was found between subjects who reported they were favored and those who reported their sibling was favored. Subjects who reported they were favored described their current relationship with their sibling as competitive. They were five times less likely to report receiving emotional support from their sibling and they were also less likely to rate their sibling relationship as important. Their attachment patterns were no different from other subjects.

In contrast, subjects who reported their sibling was favored tended to rate their sibling relationship positively, but had compulsive self-reliant attachment patterns. The findings from the present study indicate that perception of childhood favouritism effects sibling relationships in adulthood. It seems to effect attachment patterns as well. These data suggest the favoritism in families may lead to a problem of relating between adult siblings wherein the favored sibling appears to look for, but be unable to support from the other sibling while the un-favored one looks to no one but him or herself for support.

These perceptions of favoritism can be explored and may be intervened in family therapy sessions with both children and adults. Their consequences for business families merits further study.

For more information contact: Irem Bray at The Family Business School