Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T03:19:30.316Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A Contribution to the Psychological Study of Interpersonal Relations in Twins

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

F. Cacciaguerra*
Affiliation:
Centro Auxologico Italiano di Piancavallo e Cattedra di Psicologia Applicata, Università Cattolica, Milano
*
Centro Auxologico Italiano, Via L. Ariosto 13, 10145 Milano, 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.

A sample of 71 twin pairs (32 MZ, 39 DZ), of mean age 9.7 years, has been studied through various techniques in order to better understanding the interpersonal relation of twins, both within the pair and with respect to the members of the family group, and especially the mother. Zygosity, dominance, and birth order have been taken into account. The relation between MZ twins appears to be somehow less special than believed, whereas a special triadic relation appears to exist with the mother. A differentiated research of identity in MZs and autonomy in DZs is also noted (which contributes to a better understanding of problems of schizophrenia in twins). Finally, the relation between MZ cotwins shows mutual similarity and attachment to be lower than foreseen and, anyhow, of a far from misterious nature.

Riassunto

RIASSUNTO

Sono state studiate 71 coppie di gemelli, di cui 32 MZ e 39 DZ, di età media 9,7 anni, con tecniche proiettive, colloqui e attribuzioni preferenziali, al fine di chiarire il rapporto interpersonale dei gemelli, sia all'interno della coppia che nei confronti dei componenti il gruppo familiare, in particolare la madre. Sono state controllate anche le differenze attribuibili a zigotismo, dominanza e ordine di genitura. I risultati attenuano la particolarità del rapporto tra MZ, evidenziando invece un rapporto triadico con la madre di tipo speciale. Emerge, inoltre, la ricerca differenziata del senso di identità nei MZ e di autonomia nei DZ, che contribuisce alla comprensione del problema della schizofrenia nei gemelli, ed appare un rapporto tra i MZ in cui la similarità e l'attaccamento reciproci sono inferiori al prevedibile e comunque di natura non misteriosa.

Résumé

RÉSUMÉ

Un échantillon de 71 couples de jumeaux (32 MZ, 39 DZ), d'âge moyen 9,7 ans, a été étudié, moyennant différentes techniques, afin d'éclaircir le rapport interpersonnel des jumeaux, soit au sein du couple, soit vis à vis des membres du groupe familial, notamment la mère. La zygosité, la dominance et l'ordre de naissance ont été considérés. Les résultats indiquent que le rapport entre jumeaux MZ n'est pas de nature si spéciale que l'on avait supposé, alors qu'un rapport spécial, triadique, paraît exister avec la mère. l'on remarque encore une recherche différenciée du sensé d'identité chez les MZ et d'autonomie chez les DZ, ce qui contribue à la compréhension du problème de la schizophrénie chez les jumeaux. Le rapport entre les jumeaux MZ indique enfin que leur similarité et attachement sont inférieurs à ce qu'on aurait supposé et, de toute façon, de nature non mystérieuse.

Zusammenfassung

ZUSAMMENFASSUNG

Um das interpersonelle Verhältnis von Zwillingen einerseits unter sich, andererseits zu ihren Familienmitgliedern, insbesondere zur Mutter, zu klären wurden 71 Zwillingspaare (32 EZ und 39 ZZ; Durchschnittsalter 9,7 J.) Projektionstests, Unterredungen und vorzugsweiser Zuerkennung unterzogen. Auch die durch Eiigkeit, Dominanz und Geburtsreihenfolge bedingten Unterschiede wurden geprüft. Die Ergebnisse weisen weniger auf eine Sonderbeziehung zwischen EZ hin, als auf eine charakteristische Dreierbeziehung zur Mutter. Ausserdem trat die differenzierte Suche, bei EZ nach Identität, bei ZZ nach Autonomie zutage, wodurch das Problem der Schizophrenie bei Zwillingen besserverständlich wird. Im Verhältnis von EZ schienen Aehnlichkeite und gegenseitige Anhängigkeit geringer als vorausgesehen und durchaus nicht mysteriöser Natur zu sein.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © The International Society for Twin Studies 1975

References

BIBLIOGRAFIA

Bateson, G., Jackson, D.D., Haley, J., Weakland, J. 1956. Toward a theory of schizophrenia. Behav. Sci., 1: 251264.Google Scholar
Bene, E., Antony, J. 1957 a. A technique for the objective assessment of the child's family relationship. J. Ment. Sci., 103: 541555.Google Scholar
Bene, E., Antony, J. 1957 b. Manual for the Family Relation Test. London: Nat. Found Educ. Res. Google Scholar
Blum, G.S. 1950. The Blacky Pictures. New York: The Psychol. Corp. Google Scholar
Braken, H. von 1934. Mutual intimacy in twins. Types of social structure in pairs of identical and fraternal twins. Character. Pers., 2: 293309.Google Scholar
Braken, H. von 1936. Verbundenheit und Ordnung im Binnenleben von Zwillingspaaren. Ztschr. Paedag. Psychol. Jugkde, 37: 6581.Google Scholar
Braken, H. von 1939. Untersuchungen an Zwillingen über die Entwicklung der Selbständigkeit im Kindesalter. Arch. Ges. Psychol., 105: 217242.Google Scholar
Burlingham, D. 1952. Twins: A Study of Three Pairs of Identical Twins. London: Imago.Google Scholar
Cacciaguerra, F. 1968. I Sentimenti del Fanciullo nell'Ambito Familiare. Milano: Vita e Pensiero.Google Scholar
Cacciaguerra, F. 1974. Schema corporeo e comportamenti relazionali nei gemelli. Acta Med. Auxol. (in press).Google Scholar
Corman, L. 1964. Le Test du Dessin de la Famille. Paris: P.U.F. Google Scholar
Duss, L. 1950. La Méthode des Fables en Psychanalyse Infantile. Paris: L'Arche.Google Scholar
Fischer, M., Harvald, B., Hauge, 1969. A danish twin study of schizophrenia. Br. J. Psychiatry, 115: 981–90.Google Scholar
Fischer, M. 1971. Psychoses in the offspring of schizophrenic monozygotic twins and their normal co-twins. Br. J. Psychiatry, 118:4252.Google Scholar
Gedda, L. 1948. La psicologia dei gemelli. Riv. Psicol., 3.Google Scholar
Gedda, L. 1951. Lo Studio dei Gemelli. Roma: Ed. Orizzonte Medico.Google Scholar
Gedda, L., Berard Magistretti, S. 1958. La convergenza fusionale come criterio di identificazione biologica del gemello-guida. Acta Genet. Med. Gemellol. (Roma), 3: 301312.Google Scholar
Gesell, A., Thompson, H. 1941. Twins T and C from infancy to adolescence: biogenetic study of individual differences by method of co-twin control. Genet. Psychol. Mongr., 24: 3121.Google Scholar
Gille, R. Test Film. Firenze: O.S. Google Scholar
Hamilton, J., Blewett, D., Sydiaha, D. 1971. Inkblot responses of identical and fraternal twins. J. Genet. Psychol., 119: 3741.Google Scholar
Jackson, D.D. 1959. A critique of the literature on the genetics of schizophrenia. In Jackson, D.D. (ed.): The Study of Schizophrenia. New York: Basic Books.Google Scholar
Kallmann, F.J. 1946. The genetic theory of schizophrenia. Am. J. Psychiatry, 103: 309–22.Google Scholar
Kallmann, F.J., Roth, B. 1956. Genetic aspects of preadolescent schizophrenia. Am. J. Psychiatry, 112: 599606.Google Scholar
Karpman, B. 1951. A psychoanalytic study of a fraternal twin. Am. J. Orthopsychiatry, 4: 735755.Google Scholar
Karpman, B. 1953. Psychodynamics in a fraternal twinship relations. Psycoanal. Rev., 07: 124.Google Scholar
Koch, H.L. 1966. Twins and Twin Relation. Chicago: University Press.Google Scholar
Lehtovara, A. 1938. Psychologische Zwillingsuntersuchungen. Ann. Acad. Sc. Foenicae, 39.Google Scholar
Mittler, P. 1971. The Study of Twins. London: Penguin Books.Google Scholar
Newman, H.H., Freeman, F.N., Holzinger, K.J. 1937. Twins: a Study of Heredity and Environment. Chicago: University Press.Google Scholar
Palazzoli Selvini, M. 1963. L'Anoressia Mentale. Milano: Feltrinelli.Google Scholar
Parisi, P., Di Bacco, M. 1968. Fingerprints and the diagnosis of zygosity in twins. Acta Genet. Med. Gemellol. (Roma), 17: 333358.Google Scholar
Pire, G. 1966. Application des techniques sociométriques à l'étude des jumeaux. Enfance, 1: 2348.Google Scholar
Pollin, W., Allen, M.G., Hoffer, A., Stabenau, J.R., Hrubec, Z. 1969. Psychopathology in 15.909 pairs of veteran twins. Am. J. Psychiatry, 5: 597610.Google Scholar
Rosenthal, D. 1960. Confusion of identity and the frequency of schizophrenia in twins. Arch. Gen. Psychiatry, 3: 297304.Google Scholar
Schachter, M. 1950. Regression affective et psychomotrice chez des jumelles univitellines. Arch. Neurol., 10: 170–73.Google Scholar
Schachter, M. 1952. Contribution à l'étude du psychodiagnostic de Rorschach chez les jumeaux. Encéphale, 1: 2344.Google Scholar
Shields, J. 1954. The social development of twins. Case Conference, 4: 514.Google Scholar
Shields, J., Gottesman, I.I., Slater, E. 1967. Kallmann's 1946 schizoprenia twin study in the light of new information. Acta Psychiatr. Scand., 43: 385396.Google Scholar
Szyrinsky, V. 1962. Parents and children in the light of dynamic psychology. Psychosomatics, 3:3336.Google Scholar
Szyrinsky, V. 1963. Pattern analysis of the “Two Houses Technique” in child psychiatry. In: I Disturbi del Carattere nell'Età Evolutiva. Atti 2° Congr. Intern. Pedopsichiatria, Roma.Google Scholar
Vacca, E., Cioffi, F. 1949. Le test de Rorschach appliqué à des jumeaux italiens. I Rencontre Rorschach, Zurich.Google Scholar
Vandenberg, S.G. 1966. Contribution of twin research to psychology. Psychol. Bull., 66: 327351.Google Scholar
Zazzo, R. 1960. Les Jumeaux: Le Couple et la Personne. Paris: P.U.F. Google Scholar