Behavioral and Brain Sciences



Short Communication

The sibling relationship as a context for the development of social understanding


Nina Howe a1
a1 Department of Education, Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec H3G 1M8, Canada nina.howe@education.concordia.ca

Abstract

Carpendale & Lewis (C&L) provide a convincing argument for how children construct social understanding through social interaction. Certainly mothers are important in family interaction; however, sibling interaction may also be key in the process of developing social understanding. In particular, the highly affective and reciprocal dynamics of the sibling relationship in both positive and conflictual interaction may be critical.