Understanding Why Sibling Abuse Remains Under the Radar and Pathways to Outing Amy B
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Molloy College DigitalCommons@Molloy Faculty Works: Social Work 2015 Notes from the Field: Understanding Why Sibling Abuse Remains Under the Radar and Pathways to Outing Amy B. Meyers Ph.D., LCSW-R Molloy College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.molloy.edu/swk_fac Part of the Social Work Commons DigitalCommons@Molloy Feedback Recommended Citation Meyers, Amy B. Ph.D., LCSW-R, "Notes from the Field: Understanding Why Sibling Abuse Remains Under the Radar and Pathways to Outing" (2015). Faculty Works: Social Work. 2. https://digitalcommons.molloy.edu/swk_fac/2 This Peer-Reviewed Article is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@Molloy. It has been accepted for inclusion in Faculty Works: Social Work by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Molloy. For more information, please contact [email protected],[email protected]. Notes from the Field: Understanding Why Sibling Abuse Remains Under the Radar and Pathways to Outing Professional Development: Journal: The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education Notes from the Field: Understanding Why Sibling Abuse Remains Under Article Title: the Radar and Pathways to Outing Author(s): Amy Meyers Volume and Issue Number: Vol.18 No.2 Manuscript ID: 182024 Page Number: 24 Year: 2015 Professional Development: The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education is a refereed journal concerned with publishing scholarly and relevant articles on continuing education, professional development, and training in the field of social welfare. The aims of the journal are to advance the science of professional development and continuing social work education, to foster understanding among educators, practitioners, and researchers, and to promote discussion that represents a broad spectrum of interests in the field. The opinions expressed in this journal are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the policy positions of The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Social Work or its Center for Social and Behavioral Research. Professional Development: The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education is published two times a year (Spring and Winter) by the Center for Social and Behavioral Research at 1923 San Jacinto, D3500 Austin, TX 78712. Our website at www.profdevjournal.org contains additional information regarding submission of publications and subscriptions. Copyright © by The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Social Work’s Center for Social and Behavioral Research. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. ISSN: 1097-4911 URL: www.profdevjournal.org Email: www.profdevjournal.org/contact Notes from the Field: Understanding Why Sibling Abuse Remains Under the Radar and Pathways to Outing Amy Meyers The identification of sibling abuse is development sets the precedent to insinuate that imperative to the emotional well-being of the abuse from a sibling also poses serious effects. victim, the perpetrator, and the family system. This has been confirmed by research which has Sibling abuse has been identified as the most documented the long-term ramifications of common form of family violence (Button, Parker, sibling abuse (Caffaro & Conn-Caffaro, 1998; & Gealt, 2008; Reid & Donovan, 1990). It occurs Meyers, 2011; Wiehe, 1991). more frequently than parent-child abuse or Parent-Child Abuse spousal abuse (Graham-Bermann, Cutler, It has been established that emotional, Litzenberger, & Schwartz, 1994), yet it remains physical, and sexual abuse have adverse effects largely unaddressed in the literature and on the developing child that continues into subsequently under the radar of child welfare, adulthood. The perpetrator of abuse exploits the social service providers, and mental health emotional dependence of the victim and fuels practitioners. feelings of helplessness and rage in an effort to Highlighted in this paper is the need for those deliberately eradicate or compromise the child’s working in the field of mental health and social separate identity (Shengold, 1989). Childhood service to detect sibling abuse and its significant abuse manifests in problems with peers, and detrimental impact. The aim of this paper is aggression, social withdrawal, isolation (Ferrara, to broaden awareness of sibling abuse through the 2002; Trickett & McBride-Change, 1995; Briere, distinction of sibling abuse from normative 1992), depression, anxiety, conduct problems, sibling relational behavior and consider factors and deficits in intellectual and academic which prevent sibling abuse from gaining functioning (Ammerman, Cassisi, Hersen, & Van attention. Pathways to expanding knowledge of Hasselt, 1986). It has been reported that sibling abuse and integrating a sibling abuse physically abused children are significantly more framework is proposed to arm educators, aggressive than non-abused children (Feldman, practitioners, and child welfare staff to take Salzinger, Rosario, Alvarado, Caraballo, & action. Hammer, 1995; Kinard, 1980; Trickett, 1993) and have more difficulty with trust and separation Sibling Relations and Abuse as a (Kinard, 1982). Significant Force Childhood physical abuse is also linked to The effects of sibling abuse (Caffaro & Conn- adult violence towards dating partners, self- Caffaro, 1998; McLaurin, 2005; Simonelli, injurious and suicidal behavior, nonviolent Mullis, Elliott, & Pierce, 2002; Wiehe, 1990) are criminal behavior, and interpersonal problems in underscored by research on the detrimental adulthood (Malinosky-Rummel & Hansen, 1993). impact of parent-child abuse on self-esteem Adults who experience physical abuse as children (Colman & Widom, 2004; Godbout, Lussier, & are also more likely to abuse their own children Sabourin., 2006) and the culmination of evidence (Kalmuss, 1984; Straus, Gelles, & Steinmetz, on the influence of siblings on development 1980). (Cicerelli, 1995; Leader, 2007). Knowledge that Since the sibling relationship is a critical and siblings are one’s most important peers (Leader, formative relationship, and the effects of parent- 2007; Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 2010) and that child abuse are well established, it is obvious that parent-child abuse compromises psychosocial the effects of sibling abuse may have equal or Amy Meyers, Ph.D., LCSW, is an assistant professor at Molloy College 24 Notes from the Field: Sibling Abuse greater significance for the victim as parent-child uncomfortable (Meyers, 2011). As a result, abuse. Parents, who are protectors of their victims develop conforming and pleasing children, overtly or covertly allow the sibling behavior. In an unconscious manner, victims of abusive relationship to exist. Whether sibling abuse tend to repeat attachments to new partners abuse is allowed or abstractly supported, it that have familiar characteristics to that of the produces a double-whammy whereby the victim abusive relationship. This results in not only experiences abuse from their sibling, but unconsciously – or consciously – attaching to parental neglect as well. Furthermore, the emotionally unavailable partners, which feeds similarity in consequences of parent-child incest into their low self-esteem and creates a cyclical and sibling sexual abuse highlights the associated process whereby they desire but do not expect distress from any abusive dyadic family they are capable or worthy of obtaining emotional relationship. nourishment through relationships (Meyers, Sibling Abuse 2011). As important agents of socialization and self- Sibling abuse is a pervasive and detrimental perception, sibling relationships also influence experience for the victim with long-term self-esteem (Lewis & Fremouw, 2001). An interpersonal implications. However, it often gets emotionally denigrating or physically violent overlooked as normative sibling rivalry due to a experience elicits vulnerability to one’s well- lack of understanding of the distinction. Amongst being. With low self-esteem, an individual many differences, sibling abuse is non-normative potentially lacks assertiveness, social skills, and behavior whereas sibling rivalry is a the ability to resolve interpersonal conflict, developmental and growth-inducing experience. resulting in a susceptibility to either victimization or perpetration of aggressive behavior (Lewis & Sibling Abuse is Not Sibling Rivalry Fremouw, 2001). The focus of this paper is to heighten Studies on sibling abuse have found that awareness of sibling abuse as a phenomenon in victims suffer from depression, anger with the need of recognition by mental health perpetrator, and difficulty with interpersonal professionals, mandated reporters, and child relationships (Meyers, 2011; Wiehe, 1991). welfare workers, and offer pathways to broaden Survivors report being “overly” sensitive and awareness. Towards this aim, a clear and distinct engage in self-blame (Wiehe, 1991). They definition of sibling abuse is needed. describe problems in relationships with the Defining Sibling Abuse and Distinguishing it opposite sex, including repeating the victim role from Sibling Rivalry in relationships, feeling distrustful, fearful, and One contributing factor to the oversight of suspicious (Meyers, 2011; Wiehe, 1991). Some sibling abuse is its lack of definition both legally experience symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress and in the empirical research. Studies on sibling Disorder, eating disorders, and alcohol and violence, aggression, and abuse often use the substance abuse (Wiehe, 1991). terms “conflict,” “rivalry,” “aggression,”