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Brother

society Maturity 11-13 Next article →

A brother is a male sibling. He is a man or a boy who shares one or more parents with another person.

SFFf-1989091.162778 (4544868861)
SFFf-1989091.162778 (4544868861)

The female version of a brother is called a sister. Most people use the word to talk about family. However, people sometimes use it as a kind word for friends. This shows a very close bond between people. A full brother is a first degree relative.

Jackson 5 1969
Jackson 5 1969

Scientists have looked at how brothers act together. They found that warmth between brothers can lead to certain behaviors. In pairs of brothers, high warmth is linked to more risk taking. This special link is not found in other sibling pairs. The reason for this is still not clear to researchers. They also found that sibling conflict can be a risk factor. Warmth does not always act as a shield against risks.

There is a long history behind the word brother. The term comes from an old language called Proto-Indo-European. It used the word *bʰréh₂tēr. This word later became the Latin word frater. This Latin word has the same meaning we use today. People have recognized these family ties for a very long time. Even ancient art shows the bond between brothers.

Some studies look at how brothers affect others in a family. Research suggests that having an older brother may delay a girl's menarche. This is a biological change that happens about one year later. Girls with a twin or close brother may see him as an alter ego. This means they see him as a male version of themselves. Some researchers also look at how brothers affect attraction. A man might look more or less attractive based on his brother.

Jackson 5 1969
Jackson 5 1969

Ancient thinkers also had ideas about how brothers should act. Aristotle was a famous thinker who lived long ago. In 350 B.C.E., he wrote a book called Nicomachean Ethics. He said older brothers have a job to help younger ones. They should show good actions for the younger brother to follow. A child learns by imitating good people. These good habits can become a permanent part of a person.

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SFFf-1989091.162778 (4544868861)
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