Observations of Mixed-Sex Sibling Dyads

Abstract

ABRAMOVITCH, RONA; CORTER, CARL; and PEPLER, DEBRA J. Observations of Mixed-Sex Sibling Dyads. CmLD DEVELOPMENT, 1980, 51, 1268-1271. 36 pairs of mixed-sex siblings were observed for 2 1-hour periods in their homes. The younger siblings averaged 20 months of age and the interval between siblings was either large (2.5-3.5 years) or small (1-2 years). Levels of interaction were high for all groups. Age of the children within the dyad affected agonistic, prosocial, and imitative behavior. Older children initiated agonistic and prosocial acts more often than their younger siblings. Younger siblings imitated their older siblings more often. Girls were more prosocial than boys. However, there were no sex differences in agonistic or imitative behaviors. The sex composition of the dyad (boy older, girl younger versus girl older, boy younger) did not affect behavior. In addition, interval between siblings had little effect on the patterning of interaction. These results are compared with a previous study of same-sex sibling interaction.