The Question of Identity in the Context of Child Adoption

Abstract

In defining the adoption process, most scholars emphasize its legal dimension. Nevertheless, the psycho-social dimension arising from the effects of adoption must not be overlooked. The psycho-social implications of adoption permeate all procedural stages—from the assessment of prospective adoptive parents and the matching process to the role played by social workers throughout the adoption, and especially to the formation of the adopted child’s identity. Self development in the adopted child is a complex and challenging process, as it requires integrating dual aspects: on the one hand, the connection to biological parents and origins, and on the other, the bond with the adoptive family and its culture. For this reason, the adoptive family’s ability to foster bicultural competencies in the adopted child is essential. Identity-related dimensions in the adoption process concern not only the child’s development of self but also the experiences of adoptive parents and birth parents. All of them go through a difficult process of adapting to the realities of adoption—a process marked by fears, infertility-related psychological burdens, and profound moral and emotional reflection.