Abstract

Sibling rivalry is a natural manifestation based on instinct. It is pathological in two cases only: 1) when it is excessive and dangerous; 2) when it is inhibited. Little study has been made of the latter case. Inhibition of aggressivity suppresses the latter from conscious living, and sibling relationships are then marked either by indifference, a rare occurrence, or much more often by tenderness. But this tenderness, over-compensating for aggressivity persisting in the unconscious, has special characteristics.

In the frequent case of rivalry between an elder and a younger child, this tenderness can be seen, a result of ego defence against aggressivity, culminating in a regressive identification with the rival. Such a defence has the advantage of suppressing any aggressive behaviour, but it has the serious disadvantage of impeding progress and, frequently, such children are brought to us due to a stop in their progress at school. In the first place, nothing draws attention to a problem of sibling rivalry. When this rivalry has been suspected, however, behind the defence regression, the whole clinical problem is brought into sharp focus.

To achieve such a result, projective exploration through tests and psycho-dramas is more often than not, necessary. Aggressivity until then repressed is then discovered and it is possible to clearly elicit the defence mechanism through regressive identification with the rival.

Tests such as Blacky Pictures and especially the PN Test, developed by the author, permit here to throw light on the problem in depth and to bring about some understanding of the dynamic motivation of regression with backwardness at school.

The problem is exposed to several paedagogical incidences which the author develops in the latter part of his study.