Brothers and Sisters: Myth and Reality: A Workshop With Henry Abramovitch

Our relations with our brothers and sisters continue to fascinate and disappoint us. In a profound sense, we all know what a sister or brother is supposed to be. The archetype is so accessible. Even solo children know what a real sister is or how a true brother should act. This myth of sisters and brothers is true and profound, but the reality of sibling life is very different. The dynamics of envy, conflict, alienation, and worse can complicate and corrupt that ideal bond.

In this presentation, I use sibling stories in the Bible and from clinical examples to develop a new way of thinking about how and why siblings connect and clash. I try to develop a new way of conceptualizing sister-brother dynamics and a new vocabulary for thinking about sibling. I also try to show why sibling and sibling-like relationships are crucial for the process of individuation itself.