The Referee Role and Norms of Equity: A Contribution toward a Theory of Sibling Conflict

Abstract

A theory is offered which relates amount of conflict in the sibling relationship to norms of distributive justice, or equity, which exist within the family. The scope of the theory is limited to the parental referee role, and the consistency and congruity with which this role is enacted is hypothesized to directly influence the degree of sibling conflict, as well as the children's inclination to challenge parental norms and behavior. Less challenge and less conflict between sibs are both associated with referee behavior which is consistent and based on principles or rules which are verbally communicated to the children.