Nancy Segal

Nancy Segal, a leading twin-study researcher and professor, dives into the nature vs. nurture debate through fascinating case studies of twins separated at birth. She discusses astonishing similarities between these twins and reveals unique phenomena like super fecundation. The emotional bonds shared by identical twins are explored, highlighting their impact on behavior and relationships. The conversation also addresses the ethical concerns of twin separations for research, emphasizing the importance of understanding genetic backgrounds in shaping identity.

Nancy Segal, an evolutionary psychologist and expert on twins, joins the conversation to unravel the mysteries of twin dynamics. She explains surprising insights from her work on twins raised apart, including how identical twins often mirror each other more than fraternal twins. The discussion spans topics like the unique genetic connections of twins, the emotional complexity of their relationships, and how their experiences challenge our understanding of identity and behavior. Prepare for a captivating dive into the science behind twinship!

Guests include author Naomi Klein reflecting on the impact of mistaken identity, aerospace engineer Karen Willcox discussing the potential of digital twins, planetary scientist Sarah T. Stewart explaining the unique relationship between Earth and Moon, and psychologist Nancy Segal sharing insights on the similarities between unrelated twins.

Nancy Segal, author of Twin Children of the Holocaust and Gay Fathers, Twin Sons, discusses the fascinating world of twins, including accidental and intentional separations, reunions, and twins in different family arrangements. They delve into twins' history, the gay fathers and twin sons case, immigration and naturalization issues, eugenics, and the relative role of nature and nurture in shaping lives.

In December 1988, two sets of identical twins became test subjects in a study for which they had never volunteered. It was an experiment that could never be performed in a lab, and had never before been documented. This week, we revisit this fascinating story, told by psychologist Nancy Segal, about the eternal tug between nature and nurture in shaping who we are. If you like our work, please consider supporting it! See how you can help at support.hiddenbrain.org. And to learn more about human behavior and ideas that can improve your life, subscribe to our newsletter at news.hiddenbrain.org.