Do Twins Really Have Extrasensory Perception?

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Is twin telepathy the real deal, or is it just a myth?
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For centuries, stories of twins with a special—perhaps even supernatural—connection have abounded in cultures all over the world. Whether identical or fraternal, twins are believed to possess extraordinary psychic abilities: they read each other’s minds, speak their own language, and pick up on one another’s emotions and even physical pain—or so anecdotal evidence tells us. But is that all it is—anecdotal? Is twin ESP the real deal, or is it just made-up? Keep reading to find out all the answers to the mysterious riddle of twin telepathy!

Things You Should Know

  • Twin telepathy refers to the theory that twins share a psychic bond that allows them to read each other’s minds and sense when the other is in distress from afar.
  • Many twins have claimed to have extrasensory perception, but there’s no concrete scientific proof that it exists.
  • Some researchers believe twin telepathy is really just empathy due to the twins’ intense bond, or their genetic predisposition to act or think alike.
Section 1 of 4:

What is twin telepathy?

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    Twins undoubtedly share a unique bond: they have identical or nearly identical DNA, and many twins grow up in the same family and may even dress alike. They’re likely to have a close friendship and share secrets, but in many cultures around the world, their connection is believed to be something verging on the paranormal. Many folks suspect twins possess ESP, or extra sensory perception, and are able to read one another’s thoughts and feel each other’s pain. [1]
    • Some people believe only identical (monozygotic) twins have ESP, or extra-sensory perception, but many people are convinced telepathy is common among fraternal (dizygotic) twins as well.
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Section 2 of 4:

Anecdotal Evidence of Twin Telepathy

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    It’s not uncommon for people who are very close physically and emotionally to pick up on one another’s moods. However, some twins claim they can sense when their twin is in distress or harm even when they’re miles apart.
    • Keep in mind that non-twins or people who aren’t even related have made similar claims. This doesn’t discount the possibility of telepathy, but it may suggest that simply having an emotional connection to someone, even if you’re not twins, is enough to “sense” when something is wrong with them.
    • There have even been reports of people inexplicably experiencing their twins’ physical symptoms. For instance, a woman in Italy claimed to suffer labor pains at what she later learned was the exact moment her twin sister in Philadelphia was undergoing premature labor. [2]
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    They may order the same dish at a restaurant or buy the same car, and even twins who were separated at birth have been known to live similar lifestyles. (However, this doesn’t necessarily validate the existence of twin telepathy, and may only serve to suggest that personality traits and interests are genetic rather than learned.)
    • For instance, the famous Jim Twins—James Lewis and James Springer—were separated at birth, but both grew up to join the police force, marry (and divorce) women named Linda, marry women named Betty, and have the same drinking, smoking, and nail-biting habits, as well as personality traits and interests. [3]
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Section 3 of 4:

Is twin telepathy real?

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    That doesn’t mean it isn’t, but there’s simply not enough scientific evidence that twins share a paranormal connection. While there have been proven instances of mysterious paranormal connections between twins, there hasn't been enough research on twin telepathy to prove these instances were anything more than coincidental.
    • Some researchers believe that only some sets of twins may have ESP. [4]
Section 4 of 4:

Other Possible Explanations for Twin Telepathy

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    Empathy, an intense emotional connection that gives each twin insight into what the other is thinking or feeling, may be what's really behind claims of extrasensory perception. Other people who are very close (for instance, an old married couple) may exhibit the same empathy for one another. [5]
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    Some researchers believe twins who exhibit ESP-like traits may just have a very close connection. People who spend a lot of time together, especially if they grew up together, may act similarly because they’ve subconsciously learned to model or mirror one another’s behavior.
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    As in the case of the Jim Twins, who were separated at birth but went on to lead suspiciously similar lives, twins who act alike or who share personality traits may do so because of their shared DNA. Genetic predisposition has been proven to be a factor in twins acting or thinking alike, and there’s not enough evidence that twins are capable of actually “reading” one another’s minds .
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      References

      1. ↑ https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/twin-telepathy
      2. ↑ https://journals.lww.com/indianjpsychiatry/Fulltext/2011/53010/Relevance_of_para_psychology_in_psychiatric.2.aspx
      3. ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4919929/
      4. ↑ https://psi-encyclopedia.spr.ac.uk/articles/twin-telepathy
      5. ↑ https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2016-08-06/myths-and-facts-about-twins/7694586

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