Faire fratrie : réflexions autour du lien fraternel

Abstract: Background: In its most simple definition, the dictionary points out that sibling is “all the brothers and sisters of a family”. Brothers and sisters are persons having family ties, usually children descended from the same couple, or with only one parent in common, or bound by adoption. Methods: From the observation of several siblings who lived through a separation, we offer a reflection on the meaning of siblings. We present two clinical vignettes to illustrate this reflection. The first case is a seven year-old child, placed in a foster care family, who built his brotherly identity in relation to this family and not to his biological family. Contacts with his biological parents and siblings are offered to him, but it is the feeling of belonging to the foster care family that makes sense to him. Secondly, we present, through the therapeutic coverage of a 21 year-old woman, formerly adopted, the fantasmatic stake of the brotherly in her psychic elaboration. She is an only daughter in her family, but she elaborates her psychic identity in reference to a fantasmatic space made of brotherly representation in relation to a hypothetical biological sibling. Results: These illustrations bring to light the fact that sibling is not only a notion ensuing from the emotional bonds woven between its members. It is neither necessarily a matter of blood ties, but also, we realize how thinking out sibling and brotherhood creates a psychic space, necessary to any individual, in order to think of himself as a member of society. This second dimension is mainly born by the parents’ desire, which they express in front of their child. It is, indeed, because the parents wish to pass on and give a meaning to sibling that the children will be able to develop brotherly bonds. Perspective: The brotherly group defines brothers and sisters as those who were raised together. This definition is not a demographic nor a biological one, but definitely a psychological one. As a conclusion, we emphasize that, in a situation of separation of the biological siblings, due to placement in a foster care family or an adoption, it is necessary to talk within the family about sibling in its biological and psychological reality, so the “making of sibling” can be elaborated serenely. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]