Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-fqc5m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-27T17:01:21.869Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Twins and Friendship

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 February 2012

Karen Thorpe*
Affiliation:
School of Early Childhood, Queensland University of Technology, Australia. k.thorpe@qut.edu.au
*
*Address for correspondence: Karen Thorpe, School of Early Childhood, Queensland University of Technology, Victoria Park Rd, Kelvin Grove QLD 4059, Australia.

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 growing body of literature asserts the importance of friendships for a child's emotional wellbeing, behavioural adjustment and developmental attainment. However, few studies have examined friendships in the twin situation. This paper examines the literature on friendships among children who are twins and asks two questions: (1) What are the implications of the twin situation for friendship formation? (2) How can the twin situation inform theoretical knowledge concerning friendship formation in the general population? The discussion examines the implications of the twin situation for the size and nature of twin children's friendship pool and questions whether children who are twins are more likely to be adaptive or maladaptive in their social behaviour. The paper argues for the need to study the process and mechanisms in friendship formation among twin children because the findings might inform not only studies of friendship but also behavioural genetic research.

Type
Guest Editorial
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2003