Do Twins Have a Closer Relationship Than Other Siblings?

Although twins have become more commonplace, they still fascinate people. Many tales exists about the close bonds between twins. If you have twin infants or are pregnant with twins, you might wonder whether all twins develop an exceptionally close relationship. Often, twins do have a bond closer than that of other siblings, even into adulthood, family physician Dr. Elizabeth Pector, who specializes in issues facing multiple-birth families, explains.

  1. Fraternal Twins

    • Fraternal twins develop from two different eggs fertilized by two different sperm. This means that, genetically speaking, they share no more DNA than any other two siblings. Their looks and personalities can be completely different. But they do grow up in the same environment, from the womb on, which means they often are very close, especially when they're young and spending all their time together. As they go to school and develop their own personalities, they might find their own friends and pursue different interests sooner than identical twins do.

    Identical Twins

    • Identical twins develop when one fertilized egg splits in two at some point before it implants in the uterus. This means that identical twins have the same DNA, meaning that they have the same potential physical and mental development, at least early after conception. Like fraternal twins, they share the same womb, but their physical and mental development is more in synch with one another. Family and others also tend to treat identical twins more as a unit; they're more likely to share a room, be given similar names and to dress alike, Dr. Colin Ross states in his book, "The Great Psychiatry Scam: One Shrink's Personal Journey."

    Closeness

    • Identical twins have a much closer relationship and fight much less than fraternal twins, psychologist and twinning expert Dr. Nancy L. Segal reports. Among twins separated at a young age and reunited as adults, identical twins -- medically termed monozygotic twins -- are significantly closer than dizygotic, or fraternal twins, Dr. Segal states in a 2003 article in "Evolutionary Psychology." However, a Canadian study published in "Twin Research" in 2001 found that fraternal twins reported the same degree of intimacy with their twin as identical twins did. The time spent together along with their simultaneous development creates a tight bond, twins Dr. Nancy Sipes and Jana Sipes report in their book, "Dancing Naked in Front of the Fridge: And Other Lessons from Twins, " as shared on Twinstuff.com, a website managed by twins, about twins.

    Effects of Twin Closeness

    • Twins can become too dependent on each other for their own good, if they're treated as a unit by their parents rather than individuals and see their own value as being tied to their twinship, the Canadian study warns. But the development of an intensely close relationship with a twin can also facilitate the ability to form other close relationships and has a mostly positive effect, the researchers concluded.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • How to Calm Down an 11 Year Old
      An 11-year-old child is at a transitional time in his life as he edges toward puberty and his teenage years. At this age, the child will no longer submit to time-outs or your withholding desired objects. He desires greater independence without graspi
    • What to Do When Your 4-Year-Old Does Not Want to Go to Pre-K
      If your 4-year-old is clinging to your leg as you try to drop her off at pre-K, you should know that some separation anxiety is normal childhood behavior, especially when its her first experience being away from the home. By creating a simple, predic
    • What can parents do about children who constantly disobey them?
      Its incredibly frustrating when children consistently disobey. Remember, every child is different, and what works for one may not work for another. Heres a multi-faceted approach:Understanding the Why:* Age and Development: Young children may not un