A Study of the Behavior Patterns of Identical Twins A
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VALUE-IDENTIFICATION: A STUDY OF THE BEHAVIOR PATTERNS OF IDENTICAL TWINS A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF ATLANTA UNIVERSITY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS BY JAMES FRANKLIN SCOTT DEPARTMENT OF SOCIOLOGY ATLANTA, GEORGIA AUGUST PREFACE ., Sociologists have long concerned themselves with anti-social behav ior of human beings living in groups. This concern is well taken, since sociology studies the social institutions, the social structures, and the processes of-social life as these relate to social organization. Likewise, sociology is concerned with the mores, folkways, social values, norms, and standards. These are the social ingredients of society whereby the behav ior of the individual members is controlled in the interest of the stabi lity of the social order. However, all members of society do not adhere to these forms of social control, and it is at this point that sociology becomes concerned with the study of non-conformity behavior. Non-conformity behavior is relative in that this behavior runs counter the value premise of the society in which the behavior takes place, and the social values of a society are constantly changing and being re-defined. Behavior considered non-conforming twenty years ago would not be considered as such today, and many of the acts considered non-conforming today will not be considered as such twenty years hence. In this study, non-conforming behavior is viewed from the standpoint of the value identification of two boys who are identical twins. One of the boys has exhibited behavior of a conforming nature, while the other has exhibited behavior of a non-conforming nature. This study aims to ex amine the place of the process of socialization on the part of the twins, and how it came to foster different value identifications. It is hoped that this study will serve as a method of study in the sociological investigation of behavior problems, and that it will serve as a guide to further research in the area of criminology. ii I am indebted to Dr. Mozell C. ffl.ll, whose helpful advice and criti cisms have guided the preparation of this studyj to Dr. John Reid, who read and constructively criticized each chapter, and whose ideas and suggestions for improving the study were invaluable; and to Kick and Bill, whose understanding and interest made the study possible. Ill TABLE OF CONTENTS Page PREFACE. ii Chapter I. INTRODUCTION. 1 Statement of Problem 1 Working Hypotheses 1 Data and Methodology 3 Definition of Terms 5 Frame of Reference 5 Related Studies 7 II. THE LIFE HISTORY AS A SOCIOLOGICAL TOOL OF RESEARCH .... 12 Advantages • 12 Disadvantages. • •• 12 Biases 13 Personal 1U Evaluative Terms 15 III. PERSONAL-SOCIAL DOCUMENTATION OF THE TWINS. 16 Description of Neighborhoods . 16 Residential History 17 Family Profiles 17 Father 17 Mother 1° Siblings 19 Discussion. •• 21 Personality Profiles of the Twins 22 School Records 22 Bill 22 Nick 23 Work Habits 21* Bill 2U Nick 25 Parent-Child Relationships. 25 Bill 25 Nick 26 Choice of Associates. •• 27 Bill 27 Nick 28 Discussion 28 Health Conditions 30 Bill 30 Nick 30 Developmental History 30 Bill 30 Nick 32 The Boys1 Own Story 3u Bill 3U Nick 36 iv Chapter _ Page Discussion 3& TAT Profiles of the Twins • 39 Description of the Jrictures •• I4O Interpretation. ..' • hi Bill hi Kick ul IV. SUiu-iiUq: Ai'.D TisKTATIVl!, iiYPOYHLSKJ h3 Aiius of "the Study h3 Findings of the Study 1}3 Discussion of the findings uk Reliability of the Findings .<... hS Methodological Suggestions I4.5 Contributions of the Study uS' I 46 B. BILL'S iiESFOivGES TO IH£ PICTURES $2 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION Statement of Problem.—It is the problem in this study to determine from the life experiences of identical twins the nature of their differen tial identification with opposing value systems. The behavior patterns of one of the twins who will be referred to as Nick, indicate an identifica tion with delinquent social values, while his twin brother, Bill, has iden tified with non-delinquent social values. Mick's behavior has been char acterised by stealing, running away from home, vandalism, truancy, and stabbing» On the other hand, Bill does not drink, does not associate with known delinquent boys, and he has not been implicated in any activities of a delinquent nature. Neither boy has been arrested for any act, but the distinction between the boys is made on the basis of the operational definition given to non conformity and conformity behavior. Bill and Nick are nineteen years old. They have spent their entire lives in their home with their parents and other relatives, within the same general neighborhoods in Northeast Atlanta, Georgia. Working Hypotheses.—Since Bill and Nick are members of the same fam ily, residing in the same neighborhoods, and being identical twins, some assumptions can be made. These assumptions ares (1) that for the social values as held by the family and members of the neighborhoods, the boys had an equal chance for accepting delinquent or non-delinquent social values, (2) that Nick and Bill's identification with contrary social value systems is contingent upon the degree to which the boys' associations with dif ferently value-oriented groups fulfilled their desires for status and recognition, and (3) that the persistency of Niek and Bill's associations with groups with different -value orientations tended to counter the boys1 tendencies to identify with social xaLues that are exhibited by groups that do not satisfy their desires for status and recognition* Other corollary questions which will, more or less, guide the purpose of this study ares What are the interests, attitudes, and values of the boys? What is the nature of the social milieu of the boys? What are the boys' social relationships with their family and with each other? How did the boys relate to school? What were th.fcir interests in school? What were the boys1 relationships with other children in school? In the neighborhood? Who did the boys confide in? Who comprised their friendship groups? What clubs or organisations did the boys participate in or belong to? What roles did the boys play in these clubs and organizations? Who, in the boys8 ex periences, did they like or dislike most? What are the boys' attitudes toward work? What crises have members of the family faced? ?Jhat were the family members1 reactions to these crises? To the extent that these questions can be answered, some idea of the developmental process through which emerged the boys' self"-conceptions and self-images can be realized. By gaining insights into the development of self-conceptions and -self-images, one can better understand the frame of reference by which individuals come to view the world around them. How one copes with a situation depends, to some extent, upon the body of social values that one has incorporated into his personality organization through out the course of life experiences. If human behavior can be 'understood, partially, in light of the individuals' value systems! to some extent, that behavior can be modified and contrd'led. Data and Methodology,'—The source of the data for this study is two young adult males who are referred to in this study as Kick and Bill. Nick and Bill are identical twins, and these boys were born and reared in an area of Atlanta commonly referred to as "Buttermilk Bottom". The parents of the boys ar© living together and have been married since 1935. Bill and Nick have three half sisters and one half brother on their mother's side from a previous marriage, and the boys have no half sisters or brothers on the father's side from a previous marriage. Bill and Nick have been known to the investigator for seventeen months, and they have been observed by the investigator for eleven months of that time. From these observations, Bill and Nick's behavior appeared to follow opposing patterns. These observations further indicated that the boys' present behavior patterns bore some relationship to a continuity of social experiences that might aid in explaining the nature of their differential identification. Nick has identified, to some extent, with delinquent social values, while Bill has identified, to some extent, with non-delinquent social values. Bill and Nick's desires for status and recognition, their attitudes, values, habits, and interests were learned in their social- psychological experiences with members of the family, members of their friendship and neighborhood groups, and other primary groups. In order to recapitulate the crucial experiences in the life histories of Bill and Nick, thorough and complete life-histories were collected for the two boys in terms of their family background, pre-adolescent, adoles cent, and young adult experiences. This information was collected over a period of six months by means of frequent interviews with Bill and Nick, with members of their family, available private and public records on the boys, and the boys1 own written life stories. The interviews were unstruc tured and in the form of informal "get togethers", wherein the investigator had certain questions answered in the course of the conversation. Data of this nature was especially important in securing additional information, and in substantiating fragmentary data in the written life stories. Due to the nature of the interview situation, the investigator's memory was heavily taxed, and the accuracy of the data, to a considerable degree, depends upon the efficiency of the investigator to recall important aspects of the conversation. Some information were written during the course of the interview! but in other instances, the information was written after the interview, and in so doing, more pertinent information could be collected.