Abstract
Affective and emotional maturation implies the evolving of individuality itself. However, the individualization process in twins is more complex than the one experienced by singles because they need to separate not only from the mother but also from the co-twin. This research aimed to study the adaptive capacity in twins and relate it to their processes of separation and individualization. 12 pairs of same sex adult twins participated, who were interviewed about their life stories and evaluated by EDAO-R (Adaptive Operational Diagnostic Scale – Revised). Data analysis consisted in relating the adaptive diagnosis with the individualization process experienced by co-twins. It was found that the way the co-twins were perceived, identified and assisted in their specific needs significantly has contributed to the effectiveness (or not) of their individualization and adaptation to the various sectors of life. The twins themselves suggest that parents and educators treat co-twins as different persons and seek to understand the individual characteristics of each of them.
Keywords
Adaptation; EDAO; Twins; Individuation