Abstract
The perceived acceptability of sibling aggression as a function of personal experience was investigated. Participants read a scenario depicting sibling aggression and rated the perceived acceptability of the hypothetical siblings’ behaviors. Following ratings, participants completed a measure to describe their childhood experience of sibling aggression and violence. Findings supported the hypotheses that men were more accepting of sibling aggression, and that being a perpetrator of sibling aggression was associated with increased perceived acceptability of such behavior, especially for women. For men, being the victim of sibling violence was also associated with higher rates of perceived acceptability.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychological Association. (2002). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. American Psychologist, 57, 1060–1073.
Bank, L., Burraston, B., & Snyder, J. (2004). Sibling conflict and ineffective parenting as predictors of adolescent boys’ antisocial behavior and peer difficulties: Additive and interactional effects. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 14, 99–125.
Bethke, T. M., & DeJoy, D. M. (1993). An experimental study of factors influencing the acceptability of dating violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 8, 36–51.
Beyers, J. M., Leonard, J. M., Mays, V. K., & Rosen, L. A. (2000). Gender differences in the perception of courtship abuse. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 15, 451–466.
Festinger, L. (1957). A theory of cognitive dissonance. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.
Finkelhor, D., Ormrod, R. K., Turner, H. A., & Hamby, S. L. (2005). The victimization of children and youth: a comprehensive national survey. Child Maltreatment, 10, 5–25.
Finkelhor, D., Turner, H. A., & Ormrod, R. K. (2006). Kid’s stuff: the nature and impact of peer and sibling violence. Child Abuse & Neglect, 30, 1401–1421.
Fold, S. L., & Felson, R. B. (2008). Gender norms and retaliatory violence against- spouses and acquaintances. Journal of Family Issues, 29, 692–703.
Fold, S. L., & Robinson, D. T. (1998). Secondary bystander effects on intimate violence: when norms of restraint reduce deterrence. Journal of Social & Personal Relationships, 15, 277–285.
Graham-Bermann, S. A., & Cutler, S. E. (1992, August). Sibling violence and abuse: Prevalence, emotional and social outcome. Paper presented at the 100th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, Washington, DC.
Graham-Bermann, S. A., Cutler, S. E., Litzenberger, B. W., & Schwartz, W. E. (1994). Perceived conflict and violence in childhood sibling relationships and later emotional adjustment. Journal of Family Psychology, 8, 85–97.
Harris, M. B. (1991). Effects of sex of aggressor, sex of target, and relationship on evaluations of physical aggression. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 6, 174–186.
Hilton, N. Z., Harris, G. T., & Rice, M. E. (2003). Adolescents' perceptions of the seriousness of sexual aggression: influence of gender, traditional attitudes, and self-reported experience. Sexual Abuse: Journal of Research and Treatment, 15, 201–214.
Kettrey, H. H., & Emery, B. C. (2006). The discourse of sibling violence. Journal of Family Violence, 21, 407–416.
Malone, J., Tyree, A., & O’Leary, K. D. (1989). Generalization and containment: different effects of past aggression for wives and husbands. Journal of Marriage & the Family, 51, 687–697.
Noland, V. J., Liller, K. D., McDermott, R. J., Coulter, M. L., & Seraphine, A. E. (2004). Is adolescent sibling violence a precursor to college dating violence? American Journal of Health Behavior, 28, S13–S23.
Owens, D. M., & Straus, M. A. (1975). The social structure of violence in childhood and approval of violence as an adult. Aggressive Behavior, 1, 193–211.
Simonelli, C. J., Mullis, T., Elliott, A. N., & Pierce, T. W. (2002). Abuse by siblings and subsequent experiences of violence within the dating relationship. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 17, 103–121.
Stith, S. M., & Farley, S. C. (1993). A predictive model of male spousal violence. Journal of Family Violence, 8, 183–201.
Straus, M. A. (1979). Measuring intrafamily conflict and violence: the Conflict Tactics Scales. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 41, 75–88.
Straus, M. A., Gelles, R. J., & Steinmetz, S. K. (2006). Behind closed doors: Violence in the American family. New Brunswick: Transaction Publishers.
Tyree, A., & Malone, J. (1991). How can it be that wives hit husbands as much as husbands hit wives and none of us knew it? Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association, Los Angeles, California
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hardy, M., Beers, B., Burgess, C. et al. Personal Experience and Perceived Acceptability of Sibling Aggression. J Fam Viol 25, 65–71 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-009-9270-3
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-009-9270-3