How Siblings Shape Us, Even in Adulthood

KQED's Forum

KQED

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.6 • 656 Ratings

🗓️ 20 May 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

What makes a family tick? While parents spend lots of time and energy trying to shape their kids’ lives, studies show that siblings play as significant a role in who their brothers and sisters become. We talk to New York Times Magazine staff writer Susan Dominus about her new book, “Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success,” and we hear from you: how did a sibling shape who you are? Guests: Susan Dominus, author, "The Family Dynamic: A Journey into the Mystery of Sibling Success;" staff writer, New York Times Magazine Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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0:00.0	Support for Forum comes from Rancho La Puerta, a wellness resort in Baja, California, just an hour from San Diego,
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0:43.7	From KQED.
1:01.0	From KQED in San Francisco, I'm Grace Wan, in for Alexis Madrigal. As a parent, it can be easy to believe that your child's happiness, future, and very personality, rests on every little decision you make.
1:09.4	But in fact, studies show that siblings play significant roles
1:13.0	in shaping who their brothers and sisters become.
1:15.9	In other words, it's not all you, Mom and Dad.
1:18.6	We'll talk to Susan Domino's about her new book,
1:20.8	Family Dynamic, a journey into the mystery of sibling success,
1:24.2	and we hear from you, how did a sibling shape who you are? That's all coming up next,
1:29.0	right after this news.
	...

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