[oneepic]

Not an expert, but I believe the human brain uses some mechanisms to stay on the same track even if there are problems with that track. Practically, if something bad did happen to your siblings and it was memorable, it's possible they held on to it and lived as though their lives were predetermined from that. This means they are choosing to ignore your example and your mom's example.

(edit: almost forgot, remember they are afraid of your mom and afraid of leaving their current state, contributes to them staying where they are)

[mistermann]

I often think the same thing...usually one can cook up a theory of why something might have an evolutionary advantage, but this one kind of sticks out like a sore thumb. And on top of it, that our super advanced scientific culture full of experts pays little more than lip service (regardless of who is in power, and one doesn't have to be in power to push agendas) to the problem is also rather counterintuitive.