Identity Concerns in Intercountry Adoption-Immigrants as Adoptive Parents

Abstract

The psycho-social sense of identity, which is an important component of the sense of self, emerges during childhood and adolescence but is a lifelong process. In intercountry adopted children, additional layers are added to the initial difference of being adopted-in outward appearance and in cultural heritage-that do not match those of the adoptive parents. These may interfere with empathic bonding and with the integration of facets of identity into a meaningful narrative. The article addresses a particular subgroup of adoptive parents-those who have immigrated to Israel in their recent or remote past. Using the framework of self psychology, it suggests ways of helping immigrant adoptive parents to create an empathic affect-bridge with their children, who ''immigrate'' to a new family as well as to a new country, by tapping their own experiences as immigrants.

Transracial adoption

“…The term 'transracial adoption' (TRA) refers to parents of one ethnicity adopting children of a different race/ethnicity, culture or minority group (Vonk, 2001), while ICA refers to adoption across international boundaries. A number of studies have shown that ICA produces largely positive outcomes with successful adjustments (Deacon, 1997;Feigelman and Silverman, 1983;Kim, 1995;Noy-Sharav, 2005;O'Brian, 1994;Rojewski et al, 2000;Silverman, 1993;Tizard, 1991;Vonk, 2001). Some research suggests that ICA children are as likely to form as secure attachments with their parents as children in the general population (Juffer and Rosenboom, 1997;Marcovitch et al, 1997;Noy-Sharav, 2005).…”

“…A number of studies have shown that ICA produces largely positive outcomes with successful adjustments (Deacon, 1997;Feigelman and Silverman, 1983;Kim, 1995;Noy-Sharav, 2005;O'Brian, 1994;Rojewski et al, 2000;Silverman, 1993;Tizard, 1991;Vonk, 2001). Some research suggests that ICA children are as likely to form as secure attachments with their parents as children in the general population (Juffer and Rosenboom, 1997;Marcovitch et al, 1997;Noy-Sharav, 2005). However, many of these studies were limited in scope, did not cover large samples, and in some cases where positive outcomes were reflected, questions regarding ethnic identity formation were often not posed (Haugaard, 2000;Noy-Sharav, 2005).…”

“…Some research suggests that ICA children are as likely to form as secure attachments with their parents as children in the general population (Juffer and Rosenboom, 1997;Marcovitch et al, 1997;Noy-Sharav, 2005). However, many of these studies were limited in scope, did not cover large samples, and in some cases where positive outcomes were reflected, questions regarding ethnic identity formation were often not posed (Haugaard, 2000;Noy-Sharav, 2005). Some researchers are concerned that ICA/TRA children adjust at the expense of their ethnic identity (Kim, 1995;Tizard, 1991).…”

“…This third element addresses the concern that parents may promote a child's birth culture and/or racial differences too aggressively, creating resistance and anxiety in the adoptee. Parents, therefore, must balance the tension between honoring their adopted child's heritage and being sensitive to his/her need for connection and belonging (Noy-Sharav, 2005).…”

Formal and informal child placements: Some considerations from a cross-­cultural prospection on their frequency and motivations.

“…Thus, largely dealing with our known explicit formal transfers, we may find a plethora of academic approaches tackling with many different dimensions of such phenomenon, sometimes closely connected with further or parallel developments. For example the perception and conformation of identity(ies) among adoptees (Noy-Sharav, 2005) has led to explore the role of the racial and ethnic identity concerning the relationships between adoptive parents and their non-biological offspring, especially in transracial adoption (Dorow, 2006;Grice, 2005;Briggs, 2003;Westhues & Cohen, 1998;Silverman, 1993). Moreover, such studies have launched the interest on the perception and experiences of ethnic, national and familiar identities in different -though complementarycontexts (i.e.…”