Elderly twins reflect on a lifetime of striving to be an individual

Twin sisters posing at the annual double take parade in 2007, in Twinsburg, Ohio - the largest annual gathering of twins in the world. (Photo by Rick Gershon/Getty Images).Twins fascinate. Early in life they're often dressed alike, given complementary names, and bought shared gifts. Identical twins in particular intrigue us, and tales abound of their linked fates and close bonds. But a new study of 20 older twins in Sweden offers a different perspective. Interviewed individually about their lives, these twins reflected on a life spent trying to carve out a unique identity. "We were expected to always be together," remembered a male non-identical twin. "It was fun for a time, but later on it became boring to be seen as one instead of two individuals."Sirpa Pietilä and her team interviewed most of the participants in their homes, although a few opted to meet in a public place. The participants were aged 78 to 90, including seven intact pairs of twins (where both were still alive) - four identical pairs and three non-identical or "fraternal". There were also six twins who'd lost their twin sibling - two of these participants were identical, four fraternal.In terms of companionship, the participants made the kind of comments that we're used to hearing about twins. Losing a twin was devastating. "I'm only half now, there's only half of me left," said Norah (identical), aged 90. In childhood it felt entirely normal to be a twin, and the twins described how they expected other...
Source: BPS RESEARCH DIGEST - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Source Type: blogs