How Twins Experience Their Twinship, With Implications for Therapy: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Interviews
Date
Authors
Begg, Karen
Supervisor
Solomon, Margot
Appel, Stephen
Item type
Dissertation
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Auckland University of Technology
Abstract
This research project explores the meanings twin participants make of their twinship. The focus is the subjective experience of being a twin, with a view to considering what might be needed from a therapist working with a twin patient. Hermeneutic phenomenology provides a foundation for the research, which comprised a thematic analysis of interview transcripts. The themes identified were conceptualised as ?oneness?, ?twoness?, and ?threeness?; these describe respectively the experiences of twins as a single unit, as an individual within the pair, and in relation to a third person such as the therapist. It is suggested that the therapist working with a twin patient will need to acknowledge the twin?s oneness and twoness, whilst accepting their own position as third in a non-intrusive manner.Description
Keywords
Twinship, Twins in therapy, Psychotherapy, Hermeneutic phenomenology thematic analysis, Qualitative interviews