ABSTRACT
Similarities and sharing make twin development a unique experience when compared to single-birth children. Twins share their parents, their early life experiences, and a special verbal and non-verbal communication and language. Crossover developmental processes of sharing and individuality take time and sensitivity to be played out appropriately in the process of identity development in twins. Without attention to the details of unique identity development, enmeshment or narcissistic injuries are sure to haunt the lives of adult twins. Parents see their twins as narcissistic extensions of themselves and need the attention twins bring from outsiders. Privately these parents are not psychologically sophisticated enough to develop authentic relationships with their twins. In contrast, parents who can experience their children as different give them the gift to become who they truly are as they journey through life. The most painful and hard to fight emotion for many twins is loneliness.
