For parents who have teenagers, they know that hardly does a day go by without the need to settle one dispute or the other. This is because sibling rivalries are rife among teens. One would normally think that teenagers should get along and gang against the parents towards getting what they want at all times. Well inasmuch as they do that sometimes, they also fight a lot. There are so many reasons responsible for the fights. Let us consider some of them below.
COMPETITION: This is probably the main reason why siblings fight each other. Agreed they are siblings. But they are also different human beings with desires to assert their individualities and win their parents’ love. So yes… they will rise up and fight a stranger who messes with their brothers and sisters. Yet, teens will fight among themselves for the same reasons they would fight strangers outside of the home.
JEALOUSY: Siblings get jealous of what the other siblings have. This is typically fuelled by unequal treatments by parents or may even be born out of nothing in particular; just pure hate and the obsessive desire to be the centre of attraction at all times.
FRUSTRATION: As I have always pointed out in most of my previous articles in this platform, being a teenager is frustrating on its own. And when you combine that with school and the numerous things expected of teens, it becomes super stressful for them. And what’s more; there is the frustration that may result from infatuation and unrequited love. Therefore, with all the frustrating things happening to teens, it could be possible for them to take out their frustrations on their siblings; which ultimately results in fights.
FEELINGS OF BETRAYAL: I once heard the story of a younger sister who started dating her older sister’s ex boyfriend as soon as they broke up. The older sister felt so betrayed by her sister for this singular act such that they fought a lot.
Other reasons why siblings fight each other include but not limited to-
- The need for space in the house
- Insults and unruly behaviour
- Taking your siblings’ stuff without their permission
