Competition amongst siblings can range in intensity and frequency from little spats to long-term grudges.  Parental tolerance of sibling conflict can play an important role in its intensity.  It is hard for parents to give enough attention to more than one child at a time.  Competition for attention from a parent is the leading cause of sibling rivalry.  Labeling a child or comparing one child to another increases the situation.  It has also been shown that siblings with strong relationships are more successful in forming long-term friendships.  Prolonged conflict can harm one’s self-image and ability to function in social relationships.

It is important to resolve conflicts amongst siblings because they are your family for life.  Though at some point everyone feels that their friends are the only people that understand them, friends may not always stay the same.  As you get older, both you and your friends change.  Though you may grow apart from your friends, you can never grow completely apart from family.