Primary caregivers were asked to rate their children's sibling conflict tactics based on interactions observed at home. In addition, the children were also interviewed and given hypothetical sibling conflict scenarios which helped the researchers gain insight into children's consideration of multiple perspectives on the same real event. Overall, the children's responses in the interview gave researchers an understanding of the children's perspectives of self and other.

How Sibling Conflict was Observed

Over the course of childhood, siblings build up a large account of various interactions between each other. The interpersonal knowledge children collect from their history of sibling interactions can be applied to other situations such as cooperation in play, or on the other hand, teasing and bullying. Therefore, what children learn out of their sibling interactions is often reflected in their overall behavior.

Sibling Relationship as Context for Development

The strategies children use to solve interpersonal conflicts are highly dependent on the child's level of social understanding, social goals, and underlying social-cognitive skill. As observed in sibling relationships, constructive conflict tactics such as negotiation are positively associated with relationship quality. In conflict discussions, compromise outcomes are reflective of positive sibling relationship quality. 

Syracuse University

Qualities of sibling relationships, specifically during middle childhood, can impact or infer a child's level of social understanding and conflict behavior. Sibling interactions during conflict can help determine the positive or negative qualities of the relationship.

Conflicts in Sibling Relationships

https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/25592090.pdf?refreqid=excelsior%3A0e6615c93e6b0d3c68da9a5852131e88 

Holly E. Recchia and Nina Howe: Associations Between Social Understanding, Sibling Relationship Quality, and Siblings'  Conflict Strategies and Outcomes
(reference)


A child's social behavior, including interactions with their siblings, is reflective of their level of social understanding. Advanced social understanding has been linked to both antisocial and prosocial behavior, along with social competence. Children with advanced social understanding are grouped into one of two categories by researchers, "nice" or "nasty". A child's motives for their nice or nasty behavior can be explained by their personal social goals.

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