Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-cnmwb Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-17T16:56:27.294Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Process of Identity in Twins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

S. Cirillo*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Catholic University, Milan, Italy

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The Blacky Picture Test was administered to a sample of 12 pairs of male MZ twins, aged 17 to 19 years, and to an equal number of singletons. A score for 30 factors was assigned to each protocol. By comparing the scores of the two groups using the Mann-Whitney U test, only one significant difference emerged, relative to the factor concerned with positive identification and fraternal relationship. Twins chose the sibling figure as the identification object significantly less often than singletons did. A more qualitative elaboration was undertaken in order to interpret this result. From the final data, the pre-cariousness of the sense of identity in the twins comes out indirectly in their passive and conformistic acceptance of the paternal model. It would seem that the twin is induced by his relationship with his cotwin, seen as the origin of this uncertainty as to his own identity, to adhere closely to the paternal image.

Type
9. Science For Twins/Twins For Science
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1976

References

REFERENCES

Blum, G. 1962. A guide for research use of the Blacky Pictures. Journal of Projective Techniques, 26: 329.Google Scholar
Molish, H.B., Lyon, B., Briggs, D.L. 1954. Character structure of adjusted and maladjusted naval recruits as measured by the Blacky Pictures. Am. J. Ortopsychiatry, 24: 164174.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zazzo, R. 1960. Les Jumeaux, le Couple et la Personne. Tome II: L'individuation psychologique. Paris: Presses Universitaires de France.Google Scholar