ADULTS EXPECTATIONS FOR CHILDRENS SIBLING ROLES

This study assesses generally shared norms for children's sibling role s by examining adults' role expectations for older brother, older sist er, younger brother, and younger sister. Subjects listed prescriptions and proscriptions for each sibling in one of 12 two-child families wi th target children designated as 4 and 1, 7 and 4, or 10 and 7 years o ld for each of four sex compositions. Subjects had more, and relativel y more positive, role expectations for older siblings than for younger siblings. Expectations differed qualitatively for the siblings (e.g. teaching, help, protection, and caretaking were associated with older siblings, learning, deference, and admiration with younger siblings). As the ages of the target children increased, role expectations for th e siblings became more alike in some ways (e.g. affection and aggressi on) but less alike in others (e.g. respect and annoyance). The sex com position of the pair minimally influenced subjects' responses; yet sib ling roles for same-sex pairs were more differentiated than roles for mixed-sex pairs. Subjects' sibling status did not affect their respons es. The study provides a detailed description of children's sibling ro les and supported the prospect of using role theory as a framework for considering sibling relationships.