About this item
Sibling relationships are special in many ways, not least because often siblings are the family members who go through their whole lives together But those relationships can be fraught with strife or tension, bouts of happiness or strain and stress. They can predict and affect other relationships in our lives, and they can offer solace or sadness over the years. Here, Suzanne Degges-White looks at the variety of sibling relationships with an eye to improving both the good and the bad. Using real stories throughout, the author illustrates the broad spectrum of problems (and rewards) that can come from having a sibling.Examining such factors as the early family constellation, birth order, cultural diversity, and family communication patterns, Degges-White illustrates how these relationships can affect so many other areas of our lives, and considers how adult sibling conflict, rivalry, abuse, and loss influence our lives.
About the Author
Suzanne Degges-White was born in the Piedmont area of North Carolina. She spent the early part of her career as a marketing research analyst for both a trade publications company and a specialty pet food company. After the "motherhood" role was added to her life, she returned to graduate school to earn her MS in Community Counseling and her PhD in Counseling and Counselor Education. She has been a licensed professional counselor in private practice for over a decade and is currently Professor and Chair of the Department of Counseling, Adult and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL. She has won several research awards for her research in women's development. Her interest in social relationships and creativity in her work are inspired, in large part, by her three beautiful children. They continue to act as inspiration in many ways as she is at times amazed and other times baffled as she watches them develop into "emerging adults."
