Sibling abuse is any form of verbal, emotional, physical, or sexual abuse of one child by a sibling. Most instances of sibling abuse are disregarded by adults or go unnoticed. It is typically only the most extreme cases requiring medical attention or police intervention that are reported. Many cases of sibling abuse occur “under the radar” on without parental or adult intervention. Even when sibling abuse is observed by a a parent or another adult, it is often disregarded or written off as a normal part of growing up. This tends to lead to chronic abuse problems where the victim has no recourse or refuge. However, sibling abuse is just as serious as parental child abuse and causes a great deal of harm to a victim. The damaging effects often extend long into adulthood. READ MORE HERE
Sibling Abuse – Children Abusing Other Children
Even though there can be life long debilitating psychological effects, sibling abuse may be the most ignored – if not accepted – form of domestic (i.e. sexual, physical, emotional) abuse. Why is this kind of abuse ignored or minimized? There is a lot that is swept under the rug in the guise of “sibling rivalry.” And American law does not consider this a prosecutable offense unless a child is turned in by their parent(s). In other words, parents would have to be willing to file an assault charge against their own child. So parents keep this type of abuse within the family. And a lot of the time, they even blame the victim. READ MORE HERE
Sibling Sexual Abuse and Incest During Childhood
Sibling child sexual abuse is defined as “sexual behavior between siblings that is not age appropriate, not transitory, and not motivated by developmentally, mutually appropriate curiosity” (Caffaro & Conn-Caffaro, 1998). In the literature it is sometimes referred to simply as “sexually harmful behavior” rather than abuse, but I will refer to it as “abuse” so as not to devalue the impact that this experience can have on the survivor. It can refer to abuse which takes place between brother – brother, brother – sister, sister – sister, as well as between half siblings, step – siblings, and adoptive siblings. Sexual abuse between siblings remains one of the last taboos to be addressed by society – and as such, it is rarely discussed in the media, or even among survivors themselves. It comes as a shock to many people that children can present a risk to other children, but it is becoming increasingly apparent that children (even children within families) can post a very real risk. Obviously, with this silence surrounding it, it is perfectly understandable why, if you are a survivor of sibling sexual abuse, you may believe you are the only one this has happened to. It’s not! READ MORE HERE
Abusive Rivalry Amongst Siblings
Sibling rivalry is so common and universal that most parents learn to tune it out, or at least live with it. Normal sibling rivalry is one way kids learn to negotiate relationships in the world. It teaches them how to act appropriately, what’s effective, what’s harmful, what will turn others away from them. But sometimes, the rivalry becomes dangerous to a child. When this happens, parents may not want to admit to themselves that something more serious than common rivalry is occurring. They may overlook or ignore the sense that something’s wrong. Or perhaps parents are so overwhelmed with things going on in their own lives—demanding work schedules, divorce, financial difficulties or other problems—that they’re not tuned in to the fact that a child is in danger and needs protection. READ MORE HERE
Convicted killer Debra Milke walked free after serving nearly 23 years on death row for the murder of her 4-year-old son. Police say the mother lured her little boy to a desert by telling him he was going to see Santa, and then had him executed, but her conviction has since been overturned and she was granted a new trial. READ MORE HERE
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