I can read Sam's mind (wendy) wrote,
I can read Sam's mind

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SPN: Brothers

When I was in the Santa Barbara airport Tuesday, I bought a Time magazine to read. The cover story was an article called "How Your Siblings Make You Who You Are."

The story argues that your parents are really only present for the first half of your life and spouses really only for the second half. Siblings are the one lifelong constant and their influence on personality development is immense.

The article was really, really interesting. And because I am incapable of having a non-Supernatural related thought, it of course made me think of the relationship between Sam and Dean and how they influenced each other growing up.

Relevant parts of the study include: socialization, "the favorite child," self-esteem, death of a parent, being raised by a sibling, how fighting as kids makes the sibling relationship stronger as adults, etc.



  • By the time children are 11, they devote about 33% of their free time to their siblings--more time than they spend with friends, parents, teachers or even by themselves



  • 65% of mothers and 70% of fathers exhibited a preference for one child—in most cases, the older one.

  • Second-tier children may pay a price. "They tend to be sadder and have more self-esteem questions," Conger says. "They feel like they're not as worthy, and they're trying to figure out why."

  • Younger siblings mimic the skills and strengths of older ones. Older sibs are prodded to attempt something new because they don't want to be shown up by a younger one who has already tried it.




  • It was only the existence of older biological brothers--whether or not they were raised together—that influenced younger brothers' sexuality.

  • 18% of people polled say their parents favored one child over another

  • 36% of people polled say they've become closer to their siblings with age

    The full article is verrrry long but it's really good and I encourage you to read it. Here's a link:

    Link to a full-text version of the article

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