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In recent years it has become evident that the search for similarities in identical twins has almost been exhausted and that there is an urgent need for investigations into the origins of dissimilarities most of which have to be regarded as acquired after birth. There is an urgent need for observations gathered patiently over long periods by competent workers. This is exactly what this book provides in an exemplary way. It is gratifying that the unique opportunities for child studies offered in the Hampstead Nurseries during the war were not missed. The three pairs of identical twins were observed there. Mrs Burlingham was fortunate in having Miss Anna Freud as her chief adviser, with Miss Ilse Hellmann heading the team of observers. With so much scholarship at her command Mrs Burlingham could have produced a highly technical report for the specialist. She deserves gratitude for having, instead, presented her material in simple, non-technical language, but with minute attention to detail. 'The purpose of this book is to study in detail the lives of a small number of twin children and the environmental and innate conditions which account for the differences between their development and that of the ordinary children.' Theoretical comments have been kept to a minimum. The book will refute the aspersion often made that the psycho-analyst is handicapped as an observer by his theoretical background. It proves, on the contrary, that in this field, as in others, the informed observer has an advantage over the uninformed.
In a brief introductory chapter the fantasy of having a twin and its relationship to typical day-dreams are discussed. That fantasy is regarded as a reaction to the disappointment in love experienced during the oedipus phase. The twin in the fantasy is a constant companion and an ideal; he often represents two sides of an emotional conflict. He serves narcissism which appears under the mask of object love. He expresses discord and unity withi