RESEARCH_FILE
Judy Dunn
King's College London (Professor Emerita)
Known for:Foundational observational research establishing sibling rivalry and jealousy as normal, developmentally shaped features of family life
SEE THE PRACTICE
Turn a thought this research explains into one clear move.
THE THOUGHT
“If their kids win, mine lose”
YOUR RECORDED RESPONSE
“My kid is not my rebuttal.”
ONE PRIVATE MOVE
On a blank note, write the thought exactly once, then make two columns: ‘their family facts’ and ‘my child facts.’ Fill only the second column with three private details you can verify from memory, then tear up or file the note.
Key findings
- 1982
Observing families from the birth of a second child, Dunn and Kendrick found rivalry and jealousy to be a normal, near-universal reaction, strongly shaped by how differently parents treated each child from the very start. Siblings: Love, Envy, and Understanding ↗
- 1992
Reviewing the accumulated evidence, Dunn concluded that the quality of the sibling relationship — how much warmth versus rivalry it carries — shows continuity from early childhood and is linked to children's broader social understanding, not just to how they get along at home. Sisters and Brothers ↗