We may view these activities as a normal part of growing up. However, thousands of adult survivors of sibling abuse tell of the far-reaching negative effects that such unchecked behavior has had on them as children and adults. I was dumb, homely, stupid, fat. No one would ever love me. Sibling abuse, as all forms of human abuse, may be physical, emotional or sexual.
Emotional abuse is present in all forms of sibling abuse.
It may include teasing, name calling, belittling, ridiculing, intimidating, annoying, and provoking. Physical abuse ranges from hitting, biting, and slapping to more life-threatening acts such as choking or shooting with a BB gun. Sexual abuse includes unwanted touching, indecent exposure, intercourse, rape or sodomy between siblings. Children often abuse a brother or sister, usually younger than themselves, to gain power and control. One explanation for this is that the abusive child feels powerless, neglected and insecure.