A probe into psychoanalysis: A comparison of theory and sibling dynamics using Adler, Mahler and Freud

Siblings have always appeared to have a significant impact on the lives of individuals, beginning with biblical archetypal siblings. Current trends are ambivalent towards siblings, however, as major contributors to personality development. The analytic literature now recognizes the need to broaden the analysis of children's relationships with each other, but continues to view the sibling relationship as essentially rivalrous and conflictual. Life-span and family theorists recognize the importance of the sibling relationship throughout the individual's life-span, but do not discuss personality formation.; To reframe the discussion, this dissertation compares the sibling relationships and theories of two theorists, Alfred Adler and Margaret Mahler. Adler was the first dynamic theorist to consider sibling dynamics as major determinants in personality development. Although Mahler did not specifically address the impact of sibling dynamics on personality development, her own sibling experience was dramatic. Drawing from the analysis of these two theorists, this dissertation then proceeds to examine how Freud's sibling dynamics may have contributed to his theory, as well as to the orthodoxy that has characterized most sibling theory. In conclusion, this dissertation summarizes its findings and offers suggestions for further study.