About the Book
Twin Mythconceptions: False Beliefs, Fables, and Facts about Twins sheds new light on over 70 commonly held ideas and beliefs about the origins and development of identical and fraternal twins. Using the latest scientific findings from psychology, psychiatry, biology, and education, the book separates fact from fiction. Each idea about twins is described, followed by both a short answer about the truth, and then a longer, more detailed explanation. Coverage includes embryology of twins, twin types, intellectual growth, personality traits, sexual orientation of twins, marital relationships, epigenetic analyses, and more. Five appendices cover selected topics in greater depth, such as the frequency of different twin types and the varieties of polar body twin pairs. This book will inform and entertain behavioral and life science researchers, health professionals, twins, parents of twins, and anyone interested in the fascinating topic of twins.
Table of Contents:
1. Twin Types: More Than Just Two2. Living Laboratories: Double Designs and Multiple Methods
3. Mythconceptions About Twin Conceptions – I4. Mythconceptions About Twin Conceptions – II5. Identical or Fraternal? Telling Twins Apart6. Biological Complexities, Myths and Realities7. Mind-Readers? Twin Telepathy, Intelligence and Elite Performance8. Going to School and Speaking Out Loud9. Human Behavioral Variations: Sex and Sex Differences10. Good Twin--Evil Twin and Family Ties11. Twins, Clones and Other Extraordinary Pairs12. Twin Spouses and Unrelated Look-Alikes: New Views13. Of Two Minds: Old Questions and Fresh Answers
Appendix1. What About Hellin’s Law? And Does Weinberg Rule?2. Right-Handed or Left-Handed?3. Polar Body Twins: A Primer4. Nancy L. Segal's Top Ten: Classic Books on Twins5. Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
About the Author :
Dr. Nancy L. Segal is currently Professor of Psychology at California State University, Fullerton and Director of the Twin Studies Center. She has authored over 250 scientific articles and book chapters, as well as seven books on twins, most recently, Deliberately Divided: Inside the Controversial Study of Twins and Triplets Adopted Apart. Her 2012 book, Born Together-Reared Apart: The Landmark Minnesota twin Study, won the 2013 William James Award from the American Psychological Association. Dr. Segal has received several international awards, including the James Shields Award for Lifetime Contributions to Twin Research (International Society for Twin Studies) and the International Making a Difference Award (Multiple Births Canada). She is also the 2016 recipient of the prestigious Wang Family Excellence Award from California State University. Dr. Segal has contributed to national and international media, including the New York Times and the Washington Post. She has been a frequent guest on national and international television and radio programs, such as the Today Show, Good Morning America, the Martha Stewart Show, the Oprah Winfrey Show, The Forum (BBC) and the Hidden Brain National Public Radio).
Review :
"As in her previous books, Segal’s Twin Mythconceptions presents an exhaustive and scholarly, but very readable review of a vast body of literature in a way that will appeal to twins, parents of twins, the general public, and scientists alike." --Behavioral Genetics -Springer
"Nancy Segal's new book, Twin Mythconceptions, is an entertaining investigation into the scientific basis, or lack thereof, for more than 70 commonly held beliefs about identical and fraternal pairs." --Psychology Today
"...proves an in depth look into twin research findings. The writing style is easily accessible and the first person narratives provide a personal touch to the content. This balance of story and academic review provides an excellent mix." --Personality and Individual Differences
"...an exhaustive and scholarly, but very readable review of a vast body of literature in a way that will appeal to twins, parents of twins, the general public, and scientists alike." --Behavior Genetics
"A new book by a prominent twin researcher debunks many popular myths and makes a strong case for how all of us can benefit from studies of identical pairs….Twin Mythconceptions, is an entertaining investigation into the scientific basis, or lack thereof, for more than 70 commonly held beliefs about identical and fraternal pairs." --Brian Boutwell, PhD, Psychology Today, Dec, 2017
"For those interested in twins and how they have contributed somuch to our knowledge of the human condition, I would thoroughly recommend this latest authoritative but eminently readable contribution by Nancy Segal, one of the leading twin researchers of our time (and, of course, a twin herself)." --Twin Research and Human Genetics
"In this gem of a book Nancy Segal has amassed a fascinating collection of accounts about twins and the mythconceptions people have about them. She has shown again that she is the world's leading expert on twins and has written a book that will be of interest to researchers and the public alike" --Tony Vernon, Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Western Ontario
"People are fascinated by twins - they provide an incredibly important resource for scientists trying to disentangle nature from nurture in the causes of disease and behavioral differences between individuals. Nancy Segal gives us the latest scientific evidence in a rigorous, but engaging and eminently readable style. A must for twins, researchers, and anyone with a curiosity about the human condition." --Nick Martin, Editor, Twin Research and Human Genetics, Queensland Institute of Medical Research
"Do you have a question about multiple births (twinning)? If so, Twin Mythconceptions is the book for you. Written in clear prose and thoroughly documented, it will be indispensable to both the professional community and general public for a long time to come. I thought I knew a lot about twins until I read this book, but now I know how little I knew. Five stars for Segal!" --Thomas J. Bouchard, Jr., Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, University of Minnesota, Department of Psychology
“Everything you’ve always wanted to know about twins – and lots more that you may never have thought to ask. As a mother of identical twins, I found Segal’s book to be simultaneously authoritative and accessible – a remarkably engaging overview of one of humanity’s most persistently fascinating biological relationships.” --Letty Cottin Pogrebin, Author
