Does the Dominant Twin Really Exist? |
Looking at the relative importance of nature vs. nurture is a highly regarded approach to research aimed at understanding intellectual and social emotional personality development in both identical and fraternal twins. These twin findings transfer to single-born individuals as well. In other words, “How relatively important are these variables of inheritance (genetics/nature) vs. environment (nurture) to physical and psychological development?”
Researchers suggest that the development of identity is a primary factor in decision-making ability. They agree that identity determines who an individual becomes psychologically as they actualize or grow into maturity (Winnicott, 1960). An equally important question is: What contributes to an individual personality in each twin of a twin pair? In other words, besides nature and nurture, what else contributes to the development of individuality in twins? For example, why is one twin more outgoing and the other more emotionally sensitive? Why is one twin seemingly more dominant, sure of themselves, and able to make decisions? Why is the other twin reluctant to express themself?
Undeniably, social interactions and attentiveness from parents, close others, and teachers contribute to the development of dominance and non-dominance in twins. The twin dynamic, based on parent perceptions of the children, is a critical factor: “Is my son more like his mom or dad or one of his grandparents?" "Is my daughter more like her mother or father?” The comparing and contrasting of twins begins early in life and typically never stops as people ask pointed questions about how each of the twins are........