Using Symbolic Interactionism to Model Transitions to Adoptive Parenthood

Abstract

This article focuses on symbolic interactionism and its utility when applied to adoptive families. We argue that Mead's (1934, 1956) theoretical concepts of self, generalized other, and shared meaning are underutilized tools for exploring prospective parents' decision of whether to adopt, the transition to adoptive parenthood, and subsequent family adjustment over time. We also advocate for the extension of salience to generalized other, in order to better understand and reflect prospective parents' perspectives of and experiences with adoption. We chose symbolic interactionism as a single theoretical framework to unify the extant adoption literature; in doing so, a conceptual model was developed to better illustrate the theoretical principles as they inform decision making and action taking across the transition to adoptive family life. The model posits six specific propositions that warrant further empirical exploration to test and refine its predictive utility.

Open adoption and diverse families: Complex relationships in the digital age. Abbie E.Goldberg. New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2019

“…Readers gain an inside look at the ups and downs of openness. These fluctuations are often associated with unmet, met, or exceeded hopes, fears, and expectations regarding birth family contact, which echo the broader literature on the transition to adoptive parenthood (Willis Hepp et al, 2019). Adoptive and prospective adoptive parents, in addition to those supporting them, will find these stories provocative yet normalizing, preparing them for what may lie ahead.…”