Sibling set configuration, family dynamics and childhood psychopathology

Abstract

The study attempts to explore those characteristics which make it possible for a given child in a family to emerge with psychological dysfunction. As the starting point, Fishbein's (1981) research study on the effects of sex and birth order of sibling set on the selection of an identified patient is replicated in part. Also) the effects of theoverinvolvement of one of the parents, the presence of a grandparent in the household and the sibling rivalry felt by the child upon psychological dysfunction in the identified patient are examined. The theoretical framework of this study rests on family systems theory (Bowen, 1974 ; Minuchin, 1974), which investigates the relationship between family members; and Adler's theory of birth order.