Meet Paula Bernstein and Elyse Schein, two identical twin sisters. In 1968, they were separated as newborn babies — in the name of science. Paula and Elyse were the subjects of a bizarre scientific study that set out to test the difference between nature and nurture.
The twins grew up living remarkably similar lives, but had no idea the other even existed. They both lived in New York, they both edited their high school newspapers, and they even studied the same subject in college. But after Elyse’s adoptive mother passed away, she started to dig into her past. She eventually learned that her biological mom wanted nothing to do with her — but she also learned she had an identical twin sister named Paula who just might.
Nearly 40 years since they were separated at birth, Paula and Elyse found each other. They formed an incredible bond, but the more they talked, the more they realized how angry they were to meet so late in life — and under such strange circumstances.
Scroll down to see what happened after Paula and Elyse began to unravel their twisted story…
h/t: CBS News
Twin sisters Paula and Elyse were born in New York in 1968. They were separated at birth and adopted by two different families…
…and it was all part of a strange social experiment.
Peter Neubauer was the child psychiatrist responsible for the study, which set out to test the difference between nature and nurture. However, Paula and Elyse's adoptive parents weren't told the real purpose of the experiment. All they knew was that the twins were part of an ongoing study.
Presuming he would one day be questioned about the study, Neubauer reportedly locked the paperwork away in a filing cabinet. The study was never even published!
Both Paula and Elyse grew up in happy homes. But years later, Elyse decided to find her birth mother.
While the biological mom had no interest in meeting, Elyse discovered that she had an identical twin. Within days, Elyse enlisted the help of social workers to find Paula.
At the age of 35, Paula and Elyse met in person for the very first time and realized their stunning similarities. For example, they both lived in New York. They both grew up in loving homes. They both graduated film school. They both loved to write.
The more the sisters talked, the more they unraveled the bizarre story behind the social experiment into which they were born. Together, Paula and Elyse wrote a book about their journey, entitled Identical Strangers.
Paula and Elyse even tracked down the psychiatrist responsible for shaping their lives. They say he showed no remorse.
But even though they cringe at the thought of missing out on each other for 35 long years, Paula and Elyse have finally found their forever sister.
I can't believe the circumstances that brought Paula and Elyse together. What do you think of the bizarre experiment that separated them for so long? Let us know, and please SHARE this with your friends on Facebook!
