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DOI :10.26650/SP2018-0024   IUP :10.26650/SP2018-0024    Full Text (PDF)

Twin Bond and Separation-Integration Process in Identical Twin Adolescents

Şule Baştemur

The purpose of this study is to deeply investigate the experience of twin bond and separation-integration processes in monozygotic (identical) twin adolescents. To be a healthy individual in the context of twin psychology, healthy separation-integration and healthy twin bond process are required. These two processes are both related to and significantly affected by each other. Moreover, twins’ seperation-integration and twin bond process are defined as one of the most problematic areas in literature. Studying these two processes together is important for twins to develop healthy identities. Healthy identity development is also significant for individuation of twins. In this study, three femalefemale and three male-male monozygotic twins, obtained through the snowball sampling method, were interviewed. The closed-ended questions and semi-structured interview questions were prepared by the researcher and asked to each twin seperately. The interpretive phenomenological analysis method was used and separation and integration, twin bond and twinship paradox superordinate themes emerged. The main themes of parental attitudes, similarities and shared experiences, and role conflict were emerged under the separation and integration superordinate theme; separation anxiety, twin loss anxiety and dependence of self on the twin pair were emerged under the twin bond superordinate theme; and individualization efforts and competition emerged under the twinship paradox superordinate theme. The superordinate themes, main themes and subcategorieswere discussed in light of the literature. Suggestions to future researchers and implications are also provided.
Keywords: Monozygotic twins, separation-integration, twin bond, twin psychology
DOI :10.26650/SP2018-0024   IUP :10.26650/SP2018-0024    Full Text (PDF)

Tek Yumurta İkizi Ergenlerde İkiz Bağı ve Ayrışma-Bütünleşme Süreci

Şule Baştemur

Bu araştırmada tek yumurta ikizi ergenlerin ikiz bağı ve ayrışma-bütünleşme sürecine yönelik deneyimlerinin derinlemesine araştırılması amaçlanmaktadır. İkiz psikolojisi bağlamında sağlıklı birey olabilmek için, sağlıklı ayrışma ve bütünleşme ve sağlıklı ikiz bağı gerekmektedir. Bu iki süreç hem birbirleri ile ilişkilidir hem de birbirlerinden önemli düzeyde etkilenmektedir. Aynı zamanda, alan yazında ikizlerin en çok problem yaşadıkları alanlar olarak da tanımlanmaktadır. Bu iki sürecin beraber incelenmesi de ikizlerin sağlıklı kimlik geliştirmeleri için önemlidir. Sağlıklı kimlik gelişimi de ikizlerin bireyselleşme süreçleri noktasında önemlidir. Bu araştırmada kartopu örnekleme yöntemi ile ulaşılan üç kadın-kadın, üç erkek-erkek tek yumurta ikizleri ile görüşme yapılmıştır. Araştırmacı tarafından hazırlanan kişisel bilgi formu ve yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme soruları her bir ikiz eşine ayrı ayrı sorulmuştur. Araştırmada yorumlayıcı fenomenolojik analiz yöntemi kullanılarak yapılan analizlerde, ayrışma ve bütünleşme, ikiz bağı ve ikizliğin paradoksu üst temaları ortaya çıkmıştır. Ayrışma ve bütünleşme üst teması altında ebeveyn tutumları, benzerlikler ve ortak yaşantılar, rol karmaşası ana temaları; ikiz bağı üst teması altında ayrılık kaygısı, ikiz kaybı korkusu ve benliğin ikiz eşine bağlı olması ana temaları; son olarak ikizliğin paradoksu üst teması altında bireyselleşme çabaları ve rekabet ana temaları ortaya çıkmıştır. Üst temalar, ana temalar ve alt kategoriler alan yazın ışığında tartışılmış, gelecek çalışmalara ve çalışmacılara önerilerde bulunulmuştur.
Keywords: Tek yumurta ikizleri, ayrışma-bütünleşme, ikiz bağı, ikiz psikolojisi

EXTENDED ABSTRACT


The twin bond and separation-integration processes in monozygotic twins are the primary variables that affect personality structures in twins. Separation-integration and twin bond are considered variables that cause twins to have problems in individualization (Klein, 2012). These two processes also affect each other significantly (Ainslie, 1997). As a definition, separation and integration in twins is a concept representing separation between twins in certain traits and integration with the twin in certain traits (Siemon, 1980). The twin bond is defined as a bond that starts in the mother’s womb and connects twins to each other in a conscious or unconscious manner through their experiences (Klein, 2003). This bond causes twins to be connected to each other through a high level of telepathy or a super sensual feeling (Pearlman & Ganon, 2000). Twin bond and separation-integration has both positive and negative effects (Withrow & Schwiebert, 2005). While some of the positive effects are, a strong empathic relationship (Ainslie, 1997), a sense of trust (Adelman & Siemon, 1986), a protective factor from loneliness (Wilson, 1975); inter-identification (Ainslie, 1997), similar personalities and individualization problems (Schave & Ciriello, 1983) are examples of negative effects of the twin bond. Since there is limited research available concerning the twin individuation process, this study aims to explore the experiences of monozygotic twins regarding the separation-integration process and the twin bond during the adolescence period where the search for identity comes to the fore. 

Method

The qualitative research method was used in this study in order to investigate the separation-integration and twin bond processes between twin adolescents. The study shows the research steps through the main concepts of the phenomenological method such as lived experience, intentionality, epoché, phenomenological reduction, imaginative variation and co-researchers. A total of 12 monozygotic twins (6 pairs) consisting of 3 female-female and 3 male-male pairs were interviewed in the study. The participants were obtained through the snowball sampling method. Five closed-ended questions and 12 semi-structured interview questions were prepared with the support of three specialists. The questions in the interview form concerned the parents’ behavior towards their being twins, whether any comparison was made between twins, what kind of comparison was made, the equal roles given to them by parents or their roles related to being twins, their duties and responsibilities, relationships with each other, whether they put pressure on each other, their personality similarities and differences, the empathic twin bond, the experiences they had in their social life due to being twins and the impact of the relationship or bond between them on their social relationships with their friends. The interpretative phenomenological analysis method was used for data analysis. For internal validity, the dataset was sent to different specialists. Research approval conducted from the Provincial Directorate of National Education.

Results

Separation and integration, twin bond and twinship paradox superordinate themes emerged. Separation and integration is a concept meaning that twins both resemble and differ from each other in certain traits. In this way, twins can be considered as two different people rather than one. Patterns related to separation and integration created the master themes of parent attitudes, similarities/shared experiences and role conflict. The second superordinate theme is the twin bond which is a different concept. Attachment to each other means that “self-concept of one twin depends on his/her twin sibling” or “a twin feels incomplete in the absence of his/her twin” (Ainslie, 1997, p. 69). The analysis of the patterns repeated by the participants in the study revealed that master themes of separation anxiety, fear of losing a twin and dependence of self on the twin sibling. Separation anxiety includes twins’ refusal to stay away from their siblings and desire to have their twins close all the time. The last superordinate theme is the twinship paradox. The concept of twinship paradox is used for situations where a person does not like being a twin or likes being a twin at certain points but wants to be different at certain points. The study revealed that the twins both liked being twins and tried to be different from their siblings as well. The main themes of individualization efforts, a desire to live alone and competition emerged under this theme.

Discussion

The most influential people for both twins and singletons in terms of separationintegration, twin bond and the twinship paradox are the parents. Stress on parents due to having twin babies and insufficient care given to babies because of this stress are common issues witnessed in parents of twins and this affects the bond formed between babies and their mothers (Leonard & Denton, 2006). In this case, one of the twins is assigned as the surrogate parent and made responsible for his/her twin sibling due to the difficulty of raising twins and problems of attachment (Lander, 2008; Miliora, 2003; Segal, 2000). Different twin types are formed depending on whether this bond is close, distant or intertwined. Lastly, although society sees them as individuals who have good relations, sometimes twins do not like being twins and become polarized. Defined as the twinship paradox by Ainslie (1997), this represents the fact that twins want to be different from their twin siblings. This superordinate theme includes individualization efforts as a master theme. This is caused by attitudes of parents towards both twins. In some cases, twins both like being twins and make efforts to individualize and become different from their twins.


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APA

Baştemur, Ş. (2019). Twin Bond and Separation-Integration Process in Identical Twin Adolescents. Studies in Psychology, 39(1), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.26650/SP2018-0024


AMA

Baştemur Ş. Twin Bond and Separation-Integration Process in Identical Twin Adolescents. Studies in Psychology. 2019;39(1):1-22. https://doi.org/10.26650/SP2018-0024


ABNT

Baştemur, Ş. Twin Bond and Separation-Integration Process in Identical Twin Adolescents. Studies in Psychology, [Publisher Location], v. 39, n. 1, p. 1-22, 2019.


Chicago: Author-Date Style

Baştemur, Şule,. 2019. “Twin Bond and Separation-Integration Process in Identical Twin Adolescents.” Studies in Psychology 39, no. 1: 1-22. https://doi.org/10.26650/SP2018-0024


Chicago: Humanities Style

Baştemur, Şule,. “Twin Bond and Separation-Integration Process in Identical Twin Adolescents.” Studies in Psychology 39, no. 1 (May. 2025): 1-22. https://doi.org/10.26650/SP2018-0024


Harvard: Australian Style

Baştemur, Ş 2019, 'Twin Bond and Separation-Integration Process in Identical Twin Adolescents', Studies in Psychology, vol. 39, no. 1, pp. 1-22, viewed 18 May. 2025, https://doi.org/10.26650/SP2018-0024


Harvard: Author-Date Style

Baştemur, Ş. (2019) ‘Twin Bond and Separation-Integration Process in Identical Twin Adolescents’, Studies in Psychology, 39(1), pp. 1-22. https://doi.org/10.26650/SP2018-0024 (18 May. 2025).


MLA

Baştemur, Şule,. “Twin Bond and Separation-Integration Process in Identical Twin Adolescents.” Studies in Psychology, vol. 39, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1-22. [Database Container], https://doi.org/10.26650/SP2018-0024


Vancouver

Baştemur Ş. Twin Bond and Separation-Integration Process in Identical Twin Adolescents. Studies in Psychology [Internet]. 18 May. 2025 [cited 18 May. 2025];39(1):1-22. Available from: https://doi.org/10.26650/SP2018-0024 doi: 10.26650/SP2018-0024


ISNAD

Baştemur, Şule. “Twin Bond and Separation-Integration Process in Identical Twin Adolescents”. Studies in Psychology 39/1 (May. 2025): 1-22. https://doi.org/10.26650/SP2018-0024



TIMELINE


Submitted25.09.2018
First Revision23.10.2018
Last Revision09.01.2019
Accepted11.01.2019
Published Online16.04.2019

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