As an identical twin, I can assure you that there are two events to explain differences between twins. First, one of the twins usually becomes the dominant over the other, which shapes various related characteristics such as self-esteem, taking initiative and social skills. Secondly, twins are always compared (and I do mean ALWAYS--very tiresome) so you feel a strong need to establish a self that is distinct from your twin. Remember that our our genes can be turned on or off relative to our experiences--and twins do NOT have the same experiences due to the varying impact of the relationship they develop with each other and how this impacts the perspective other people have of you.
Joan [email protected] > Judy Harris made the case of conjoined twins Laleh and Ladan Bijani a > central theme of her book _No Two Alike_ (2006). The puzzle she posed for > herself (and for all of us) was to explain why two people, constrained by > identical genes and mandated to live in extraordinarily similar > environments, nevertheless developed as separate individuals with > distinct personalities. Tragically, the twins, when young adult women, > died during the separation surgery they were determined to risk. > > This video gives a glimpse of the life of two teen-agers, Abbey and > Brittany, who face a similar severe restriction on their lives, and who > appear to have succeeded in overcoming its challenges. Unlike Laleh and > Ladan, separation for these twins is undoubtedly not an option. Perhaps > that helps explain what appears to be remarkable adjustment to their life > as conjoined twins. And yes, they make a brief but emphatic declaration > that despite their enforced closeness, they remain separate individuals > with separate personalities. > > http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=BkKWApOAG2g > > Stephen > ----------------------------------------------------------------- > Stephen L. Black, Ph.D. > Professor of Psychology, Emeritus > Bishop's University e-mail: [email protected] > 2600 College St. > Sherbrooke QC J1M 1Z7 > Canada > > Subscribe to discussion list (TIPS) for the teaching of > psychology at http://flightline.highline.edu/sfrantz/tips/ > ----------------------------------------------------------------------- > > --- > To make changes to your subscription contact: > > Bill Southerly ([email protected]) > > --- To make changes to your subscription contact: Bill Southerly ([email protected])
