Apparently, those with sisters grow up to be happier than those with brothers.
“Sisters appear to encourage more open communication and cohesion in families. “However, brothers seemed to have the alternative effect.
So I guess Jender-Brother (or J-Bro, as I like to call him*) had an easy time thanks to my lovely influence. But it didn’t stop him from messing me up. Or maybe we canceled each other out– there I was, trying to encourage emotional expression, and there he was stamping it out at every turn! The article contains no reflection on families with only children, and gives no indication of whether those under discussion came from families with children all of one sex. Also little reflection on the pernicious effect it might have to tell parents or expectant parents that their boys can be expected to make family life less happy. Whee! Thanks(?) Jender-Mom, for sending that one on!
*I think it helps with the bonding. I’m like that.
oh, i read about it in a bad science tweet.
http://gimpyblog.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/bbc-report-10-minute-conference-talk-as-established-scientific-fact/
Admittedly the only evidence I have is a brother. But that strikes me as being dubious. (Edited to remove expletives. Sorry about that – essay marking getting the better of me.)
Is tattling necessarily a good thing? It seems to me that one of the aspects of the sibling relationship is the threat of “I’m gonna tell” which covers a range of things from eating a cookie to coercision in order to create power allegiances and a call for protection. Given that, the communication is hardly open, but confusing in the intent unless the context is understood, the intent, etc. Additionally, the gender dynamic may not be the pivotal aspect as much as say, the sibling roles in the family (older sister as surrogate mother, the children that are scape-goats, etc.) Even “good” science should account for such a disparity in variables.
Of course you blame me for it. You always blamed me for everything. ;-)
(BTW, I don’t think I can handle “J-Bro.” Maybe “Joe from the Block”?)
Personally, I prefer ‘J-Bro’. I laughed for ages when I saw that.