Victor G. Cicirelli presents the first comprehensive resource to examine the course of the sibling relationship�from
its beginning in childhood to the end of life�and the factors which influence it. The author offers a broad theoretical
framework for sibling research and discusses methodological problems confronting the sibling researcher. This work
includes a hermeneutic study of the relationships of a single large family of adult siblings that provides new
understandings of how adult sibling relationships are maintained.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Importance of Sibling Relationships.
A Life Span Perspective for Sibling Research.
Methodological Approaches and Issues in Studying Siblings.
Siblings in Childhood Adolescence.
Siblings in Adulthood and Old Age.
Siblings in Cross-cultural Perspective.
Understanding Sibling Relationships: A Hermeneutic Approach.
Sibling Helping Relationships.
Siblings as Caregivers of Elderly Parents.
Siblings with Chronic Illnesses and Disabilities.
Sibling Conflict, Aggression, Violence, and Abuse.
Sibling Sexual Experiences: Normal Exploratory Behavior, Nonabusive Incest, and Abusive Incest.
Loss of Siblings through Death.
Siblings and Psychotherapy.
