New Perspectives on the Dynamics of the Adoption Triangle Using Biographical, Literary and Psychoanalytic Sources.”

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

New Perspectives on the Dynamics of the Adoption Triangle Using Biographical, Literary and Psychoanalytic Sources.” “NEW PERSPECTIVES ON THE DYNAMICS OF THE ADOPTION TRIANGLE USING BIOGRAPHICAL, LITERARY AND PSYCHOANALYTIC SOURCES.” Robert William Kyle Fleming A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements of the University of East London for the degree of Doctor of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy. March 2013 1 Abstract The difficulty of qualitative research in the area of adoption process is the starting point for this work. Forms of data gathering and analysis that will capture the emotionality of adoption participants are outlined. The aim was to extend our psychoanalytic understanding of the dynamics of the ‘searching’ phenomenon in the adoption triangle. A review of the psychoanalytic literature pertinent to adoption was compiled and the applicability of the core concepts explored. There was a clear fit between these tools and the task of understanding the multi-layered nature of adoption. A systematic thematic analysis of narrative accounts of the lived experience of four subjects at each of the three points of the triangle (12 in total), revealed a number of new themes. Many of them were not found in the existing literature in the same way. It was apparent that the majority of the themes were evident in all three positions of the adoption triangle. The most significant among these was evidence of a particular kind of ‘triangular psychology’. The adoption triangle members were consistently preoccupied at many levels with those occupying both the other two positions. This stands in some contrast to a tendency in the literature to assume that subjects are dyadically preoccupied with those occupying just one of the other positions. This research suggested that all were triadically relating within the triangle. The empirical work in this research suggests the manner in which these preoccupations persist through time in complex and fluid interactions with each another. The idea of ‘triangular psychology’ illuminates the phenomenon of the ‘search’ as a core existential predicament in the lives and minds of adoption participants. In addition, a systemic thematic review of two novels in which adoption is a major theme was undertaken. The analysis of the novels (one from the 19th century and one from the 21st century) had a remarkable concordance with the themes from the research 2 interviews. The vast majority of the interview themes were also present in the work by the two novelists. The implications for therapeutic work are considered. A more three dimensional way of thinking about object relationships is required when psychotherapy is offered to adoption related individuals. 3 Table of contents 1. Abstract 2. Chapter one. Introduction, context and research question. Page 8-24 3. Chapter two. Methodology Page 25-38 4. Chapter three. Psychoanalytic thinking about adoption. Page 39-56 5. Chapter four. Searching Page 57-69 6. Chapter five. Adoption, psychoanalysis and literature. Page 70-79 7. Chapter six. Adoption Themes in Bleak House. Page 80-103 8. Chapter seven. Adoption Themes in Divisadero Page 104-123 9. Chapter eight. Thematic analysis Page 124-182 10. Chapter nine. Hypothesis generation. Page 183-195 11. Chapter ten. Cross reference interview analysis and the two novels Page 196-212 4 12. Chapter eleven. Discussion and conclusion Page 213-229. 13. Bibliography Page 230-271 14. Appendices 1-24 Pages 272-323 5 Acknowledgements Many thanks for the generous thinking of Professor Andrew Cooper and Dr Janet Philps. Huge thanks also to my wife Jacqueline and my daughters Lorna and Ailsa who have been unbelievably supportive of this work. 6 Dedication. My father died in 2012 before this work was completed and it is dedicated to him. 7 Chapter One. Introduction, context and research question. “Adoption is an emotive subject entangled in webs of confusion and fantasy. ‘Mother’, ‘infant’ and ‘family’ are not neutral systems of thought but terms loaded with emotions, beliefs and fantasies. An adoptive family has to be forged through the various discourses of family life and the social injunctions of what a family should be. Whether adopted or not, individual fantasies of family life are formed within these social and cultural demands. Elinor Rosenberg (1992) has pointed out that until recently (1970a) adoption was seen, unproblematically, as providing solutions for all those involved. This rather simplistic view of adoption led to a denial of its difficulties and complexities. The call for ‘love’ as if it will simply repair and make good the losses and absences of the human condition in general, and the adoption situation in particular, is no longer feasible or realistic”. (Treacher and Katz, 2000:11) Introduction. Adoption and loss are intrinsically linked. The impact on the adopted child of losing a birth mother, on the birth mother of giving away a child and on the adoptive parent of giving up a view of themselves as capable of creating new life are three painful factors which appear in the narratives of adoption. George Eliot’s last novel ‘Daniel Deronda’ (1876) is, inter alia, a rich description of adoption. Deronda’s own understanding of his past initially contains much fantasy and frank guesswork. A wealthy English gentleman adopts Deronda and gives him a materially excellent start to life with many privileges. In one painful scene with his teacher, the 13 year old Deronda suddenly makes a link between himself as an adoptee and the illegitimate children he was reading about in history class. “… the idea that others probably knew things concerning him which they did not choose to mention, and which he would not have had them mention”. (Eliot, 1876:142) 8 The assumption is made that he is the illegitimate offspring of the wealthy gentleman. However, when his estranged birth mother struggles with her own ambivalence about giving birth and arranges to meet Daniel, his world changes. He finds himself searching for his roots in a culture that at the time was diametrically opposite to his adopted life. The impact of the search for the truth of his origins and the reality of his losses perceived in a very different manner, bring Deronda to a crossroads of development in his life and his mind (Williams and Waddell 1991). Novy (2007) has written about the manner in which Eliot’s character portrays identity searching in adoption. “…Daniel Deronda relates adoptees’ discovery of their heredity to a drastic redefinition of their personal and national identity and their vocation. In the simple terms of slogan, the novel makes a powerful case for the view that adoptees must learn their heredity to know who they really are.” (Novy 2007:156) However, not all non-fictional adoptees have such clarity of transformation. Loss and its impact can often be hidden underground or become overwhelming. The various participants in the adoption process are often far from the ideal point of using such a ‘working through’ for complete change. The purpose of this chapter is to contextualise the field of adoption and chart the evolution of the research question. In a descriptive and polemic book of collected stories of adoption, Ann Morris (1999) brings the various versions of loss to the fore. One of the adoptee’s stories is particularly moving; “I don’t know anything, really, about my natural parents, and that upsets me a lot. It’s hard to know the difference between what I remember and what I’ve been told. Sometimes I make up stories about my early childhood, about those first 13 months, because I just desperately want to have a part of my life that’s entirely mine, my very own. Being adopted, I often feel that everything I’ve got, including my name, has been given to me by my adoptive parents. I need to feel that I came to my parents with something that was already mine” (Morris 1999:192) 9 Similarly, Dusky (1996) writes of her moving experiences as a birth mother; “I was a mother without a child. I was a mother who searched for her daughter’s face in those children at shopping malls, in Central Park, anywhere children her age might be. The world was a giant stage upon which, at any moment, our paths might cross, our lives intersect. But would I recognize her? That was the question. Improbable, of course. Almost certainly crazy. I’ve talked to enough women like myself to know that this is what we all do” (Dusky, 1996:3) The adoptive parents face their own challenges as outlined by this statement from Mitchard (1996) writing about her thoughts about the birth parent; “Mother’s day is not the only time I think of her, but it’s the only time I can’t avoid it. She was going to have a child but couldn’t keep it. I wanted a child desperately but couldn’t have one. She was the mother at birth; I was the mother right after. It sounded simple, but it wasn’t”. (Mitchard, 1996:71) The adoption literature often refers to the adoption ‘triangle’ of adopted child, adoptive parents and birth parents. In its simplest form the adoption triangle (Treacher and Katz 2001, Triseliotis et al 1997) contains at least an adoptee, a birth parent and an adoptive parent who all have unique challenges to their own development and loss to work with. In the current practice of adoption, which includes many kinds of placement other than infant adoption, it is true to say that the basic triangle might be even more complicated. There will be relationships with foster carers or extended family members who may have cared for the child and developed attachments after the removal from the birth parents but before the adoption. The Office for National Statistics 2012 presented statistical details of adoption in the period 2010-11.
Recommended publications
  • Adoption As Intervention. Meta-Analytic Evidence for Massive Catch-Up and Plasticity in Physical, Socio-Emotional, and Cognitive Development
    Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 47:12 (2006), pp 1228–1245 doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2006.01675.x The Emanuel Miller Memorial Lecture 2006: Adoption as intervention. Meta-analytic evidence for massive catch-up and plasticity in physical, socio-emotional, and cognitive development Marinus H. van IJzendoorn and Femmie Juffer Centre for Child and Family Studies, Leiden University, The Netherlands Background: Adopted children have been said to be difficult children, scarred by their past experiences in maltreating families or neglecting orphanages, or by genetic or pre- and perinatal problems. Is (domestic or international) adoption an effective intervention in the developmental domains of physical growth, attachment security, cognitive development and school achievement, self-esteem, and beha- viour problems? Method: Through a series of meta-analyses on more than 270 studies that include more than 230,000 adopted and non-adopted children and their parents an adoption catch-up model was tested. Results: Although catch-up with current peers was incomplete in some developmental domains (in particular, physical growth and attachment), adopted children largely outperformed their peers left behind. Adoptions before 12 months of age were associated with more complete catch-up than later adoptions for height, attachment, and school achievement. International adoptions did not lead to lower rates of catch-up than domestic adoptions in most developmental domains. Conclusions: It is concluded that adoption is an effective intervention leading to massive catch-up. Domestic and inter- national adoptions can be justified on ethical grounds if no other solutions are available. Humans are adapted to adopt, and adoption demonstrates the plasticity of child development.
    [Show full text]
  • Adoption from a New Perspective Mindy Schulman Roman
    Hofstra Law Review Volume 23 | Issue 3 Article 5 1995 Rethinking Revocation: Adoption from a New Perspective Mindy Schulman Roman Follow this and additional works at: http://scholarlycommons.law.hofstra.edu/hlr Part of the Law Commons Recommended Citation Roman, Mindy Schulman (1995) "Rethinking Revocation: Adoption from a New Perspective," Hofstra Law Review: Vol. 23: Iss. 3, Article 5. Available at: http://scholarlycommons.law.hofstra.edu/hlr/vol23/iss3/5 This document is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarly Commons at Hofstra Law. It has been accepted for inclusion in Hofstra Law Review by an authorized administrator of Scholarly Commons at Hofstra Law. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Roman: Rethinking Revocation: Adoption from a New Perspective NOTE RETHINKING REVOCATION: ADOPTION FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE Adoption transformed my feelings about infertility and my under- standing of what parental love is all about. For years I had felt that there was only one less-than-tragic outcome of my infertility battle, and that was to reverse the damage that had been done to my body, the damage that stood in the way of pregnancy. I had felt that there was only one really satisfactory route to parenthood, and that was for me to conceive and give birth. I had assumed that the love I felt for my first [biologic] child had significantly to do with bio- logic connection. The experience of loving him was wrapped up in a package that included pregnancy, childbirth, nursing, and the ge- netic link that meant I recognized his eyes and face and personality as familial.
    [Show full text]
  • Toward a Deeper Understanding of Adoption Family Structure: Concepts Borrowed from Social Justice, Attachment Theory, and Relational Dialectics Thomas C
    Article 77 Toward a Deeper Understanding of Adoption Family Structure: Concepts Borrowed From Social Justice, Attachment Theory, and Relational Dialectics Thomas C. Harrison and Terianne F. Harrison Harrison, Thomas C., is a professor of Counseling and Educational Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. He is the former Associate Dean of the College of Education and Director of the Downing Counseling Clinic. Dr. Harrison’s current research efforts are focused on social justice and dialectical thought. Harrison, Terianne F., is a doctoral student in Counseling and Educational Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. She has a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Nevada, Reno and is in private practice. Her dissertation and clinical practice focus on adoption and adoptee identity development. Abstract Adoption and adoption family issues are not a regular part of most counselor preparation programs and, as such, mental health professionals do not have adequate training in adoption and adoption issues. The studies on adoption often reflect a lack of birth family participants and are focused instead on the adoptee and the adopted family. This paper provides a conceptualization of the adoption family system that integrates four perspectives: social justice, attachment theory—specifically object relations, the adoption triad (i.e., adoptee, all members of the adopted family, and all members of the birth family), and relational dialectics. These four dimensions comprise a fundamental conceptualization that mental health practitioners can use to help design treatments for adoptees and their families. Keywords: adoption, adoption triad, attachment theory and adoption, relational dialectics According to the United States Census Bureau (2010), between 2–4% of the American population is adopted, and this is an underestimation because only the adopted children in the home were counted.
    [Show full text]
  • 02 Whole.Pdf (5.825Mb)
    Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. Wade in the Water: Storying Adoptees’ Experiences through the Adoption Act 1955 A thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology at Massey University, Manawatu Aotearoa/New Zealand Denise Blake 2013 i Abstract In Aotearoa/New Zealand, the Adoption Act 1955 legislated and governed adoption practices until 1985 when it was supplemented, but not amended or repealed. More than 80,000 children have lived with the effects of that Act. Underlying the legislation were assumptions about illegitimacy derived from notions of nullius filius, the child of no-man. Dominant culture sought to right the wrongs of illegitimacy through the practices of adoption producing a child as if born to legally married adoptive parents. Through these practices, adoptees became legitimate beings in the social world. The first two chapters of this thesis trace the legal and psychological narrative constitution of adoptees and make it possible for me to ask the question: how are adoptees enabled and constrained through specific subject positions within a particular moral order and how are social power relations implicated in the narrative constitution of adoptees? To address this question, I draw on a Foucaultian poststructuralist position using narrative theory to form a hybrid representation of the stories of 12 adoptees. The first analysis chapter considers how a legal narrative positions adoptees so as to exclude the possibility of articulating their experiences within ‘normal’ kinship and social narratives.
    [Show full text]
  • V16n1 Content
    Parent and Child Perspectives on the Adoption Expperience: Risk and Protective Factors Professional Development: Journal: The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education Parent and Child Perspectives on the Adoption Experience: Risk and Article Title: Protective Factors Author(s): Corinne Warrener and Hillary MMi‐Sung Kim Volume and Issue Number: Vol. 161 No. 1 Manuscript ID: 161034 Page Number: 34 Year: 2013 Professional Development: The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education is a refereed journal concerned with publishing scholarly and relevant articles on continuing education, professional development, and training in the field of social welfare. The aims of the journal are to advance the science of professional development and continuing social work education, to foster underrstanding among educators, practitioners, and researchers, and to promote discussion that represents a broad spectrum of interests in the field. The opinions expressed in this journal are solely those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect the ppolicy positions of The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Social Work or its Center for Social and Behavioral Research. Professional Development: The International Journal of Continuing Social Work Education is published two times a year (Spring and Winter) by the Center for Social and Behavioral Research at 1 University Station, D3500 Austin, TX 78712. Journal subscriptions are $110. Our website at www.profdevjournal.org contains additional information regarding submission of publications and subscriptions. Copyright © by The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Social Work’s Center for Social and Behavioral Research. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. ISSN: 1097‐4911 URL: www.profdevjournal.org Email: www.profdevjournal.org/contact Parent and Child Perspectives on the Adoption Experience: Risk and Protective Factors Corinne Warrener and Hillary Mi-Sung Kim Every year over 110,000 children are adopted in Literature Review the United States.
    [Show full text]
  • The Efftcacy of Solution-Focused Therapy
    THE EFFTCACY OF SOLUTION-FOCUSED THERAPY WITH YOUNG OFFENDERS A dissertation submitted to the Facuity of Graduate Studies in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Graduate Programme in Psychology York University North York, Ontario September 27,1997 National tibrary Bibliothèque nationale I+Iof Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. nie Wellington OttawaON K1A ON4 OetawaON K1AON4 Canada Canada The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive petmettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, disttibute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. Ia fome de microfichelfilm, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts fiom it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. The Efficacy of Solution-Focused Therapy with Young Off enders by Belinda Crawford Seagram a dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies of York University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of OOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY O 1997 Permission has been granted to the LIBRARY OF YORK UNIVERSITY to lend or seIl copies of this dissertation.
    [Show full text]
  • L'adoption Coutumière Inuit Au Nunavik Et Le Comportement De L
    L’adoption coutumière inuit au Nunavik et le comportement de l’enfant à l’âge scolaire Thèse Béatrice Decaluwe Doctorat en psychologie – recherche et intervention Philosophiae doctor (Ph. D.) Québec, Canada © Béatrice Decaluwe 2016 L’adoption coutumière inuit au Nunavik et le comportement de l’enfant à l’âge scolaire Thèse Béatrice Decaluwe Sous la direction de : Gina Muckle, directrice de recherche Marie-Andrée Poirier, codirectrice de recherche RÉSUMÉ Le principal objectif de cette thèse est de documenter les liens entre l’adoption coutumière inuit et le comportement de l’enfant adopté à l’âge scolaire. Au Nunavik, un tiers des enfants sont adoptés conformément aux pratiques d’adoption coutumière. Le premier article décrit le contexte culturel et les principales caractéristiques de cette pratique. Couramment qualifiée de « don d’enfants », elle repose sur la cession libre et volontaire d’un enfant à un proche parent (tante, oncle, grands-parents) ou à un autre membre de la communauté. Contrairement à l’adoption plénière, en vigueur ailleurs au Canada et aux États-Unis, l’adoption coutumière n’est pas confidentielle et le lien de filiation biologique est préservé. Actuellement, les informations disponibles sur le développement de l’enfant inuit adopté proviennent d’un petit nombre d’études menées auprès d’enfants inuit suivis par les services de protection de la jeunesse. Basée sur les données d’une étude longitudinale prospective menée au Nunavik, cette thèse porte sur un échantillon de 46 enfants adoptés et de 231 enfants non-adoptés suivis de la naissance à l’âge scolaire. Des informations sur l’environnement prénatal et familial ont été collectées et le comportement de l’enfant à l’âge scolaire a été mesuré à l’aide du Child Behavioral Checklist complété par le professeur.
    [Show full text]
  • Coping with the Effects of Deprivation
    Coping with the effects of deprivation Development and upbringing of Romanian adoptees in the Netherlands This research project was financially supported by: the Faculty of Social and Behavioral Sciences of Utrecht University, the Dutch Ministry of Justice, Stichting Kind en Toekomst, de Gasunie, Stichting Pro Juventute and Stichting Janivo. © Catharina Rijk, 2008 No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, photoprint, microfilm or any other means without the prior written permission from the author. ISBN/EAN: 978-90-393-4822-2 Printed by: Print Partners Ipskamp BV, Enschede. Coping with the effects of deprivation Omgaan met de effecten van verwaarlozing (met een samenvatting in het Nederlands) Proefschrift ter verkrijging van de graad van doctor aan de Universiteit Utrecht op gezag van de rector magnificus, prof.dr. J.C. Stoof, ingevolge het besluit van het college voor promoties in het openbaar te verdedigen op vrijdag 13 juni 2008 des ochtends te 10.30 uur door Catharina Huberdina Antonetta Maria Rijk geboren op 13 april 1978 te Eindhoven Promotor: Prof. dr. W. Koops Co-promotor: Prof. dr. R.A.C. Hoksbergen Contents Introduction 7 Chapter 1 19 Adoption of deprived children: Co-morbidity in Dutch children adopted from Romania Chapter 2 35 Parents who adopt deprived children have a difficult task Chapter 3 57 Development of behavioral problems in children adopted from Romania to the Netherlands, after a period of deprivation Chapter 4 73 Parenting of deprived children: Romanian adopted children in the Netherlands Chapter 5 93 Education after early-life deprivation: Teachers’ experiences with Romanian adopted children Chapter 6 113 Parents’ and mental health workers’ perception of therapeutic needs, and experiences of services for Dutch children adopted from Romania General discussion and conclusions 131 Samenvatting (in het Nederlands) 143 Dankwoord 149 Curriculum Vitae 151 INTRODUCTION Adoption is a longstanding practice, which has changed much in the last four, five decades.
    [Show full text]
  • Adopted Person Resource 2000
    ADOPTED PERSON RESOURCE LIFE LONG CONSEQUENCES OF ADOPTION ADOPTION RESOURCE SEMINAR 2000 Keith C Griffith MBE 1 Introduction CONTENTS NZ Adoption History 3-5 This Paper provides authoritative resource informa- tion for adopted persons. It seeks to bring new un- Historical Societal context 5A-B derstanding of adopted persons, their birth parents and adoptive parents and core issues they face. Key issues— A Resource for- Abandonment 6-7 1. Adopted persons- Adoptive parents 7-9 2. Reunions- Anger 9-10 3. Adoption support groups- 4. Social work professionals- Anti social behaviour 11-12 Focus The reality of adoption, and the life long con- Birth parents 13-15 sequences on 31 core issues. Bonding 16-17 As at the year 2000 in New Zealand there are an estimated 90,000 adult adopted persons, 150,000 Boundaries 18 birth parents and 120,000 adoptive parents. Control 18-20 Since the passing of the Adult Adoption Informa- tion Act 1985 there has been a massive opening up Defence mechanism 20-21 of adoption. As at 30/4/2000, 35,331 adopted per- Fantasy 21-23 sons or birth parents have applied for identifying information under the Act. Open adoption has now Fiction 23-24 become the normal practice. Forgiveness 24-25 Members of the adoption community have come out and spoken openly of their experiences. Ghost Kingdom 26 Researchers have undertaken substantive re- Grief 27-29 search. Guilt/Shame/Blame 30-31 New information has enabled us to demythologise adoption. Identity 32-36 Adopted persons are normal people, subjected to Intimacy 37-39 some abnormal situations and stresses.
    [Show full text]
  • The Broken Bond: Stolen Babies Stolen Motherhood Viewed Through a Trauma Perspective
    Supplementary Submission: Proposal for Mental Health Services The Broken Bond: Stolen Babies Stolen Motherhood Viewed Through a Trauma Perspective Christine Cole PhD Candidate © Trauma is defined as: experiences that cause great stress, pain and/or fear for a person. Traumatic events can disrupt or disturb a person‘s health and everyday living … Some examples include rape, death or disappearance of a family member … being harassed by authority figures … (STARTTS Website: 2011). Introduction When the sacred bond between mother and infant is broken it is a traumatic event that inflicts life-long physical and emotional pain (Pierce: 1992; Verrier: 1997). In Australia during most of the 20th century there was a government sanctioned policy of forcibly removing the newborns of unsupported unwed mothers at or soon after birth. This was not only unethical and illegal, but violated their civil and human rights (Sherry: 1992; Harper: 1978; MacDermott: 1984). This article will discuss the past removalist policy and its effects on mothers, their now adult children and other family members, who carry the life-long psychological and emotional scars. It will also examine and discuss the underlying neuro-biological processes of birth and the affects of interfering in its completion. Contemporary science provides evidence that the impact is not confined to the traumatised, but is transmitted inter-generationally.1 The current treatment regime for those affected is flawed and needs to be refocused through a trauma perspective (Higgins: 2010). An alternative method will be put forward that is modelled on Judith Herman‘s trauma approach utilised by STARTTS,2 an organisation that provides treatment for tortured and traumatised refugees.
    [Show full text]
  • A Survey of Dissociation, Identity Distress, and Rejection Sensitivity in Adult Adoptees
    University of Central Florida STARS Honors Undergraduate Theses UCF Theses and Dissertations 2019 A Survey of Dissociation, Identity Distress, and Rejection Sensitivity in Adult Adoptees Lee J. McLamb University of Central Florida Part of the Psychology Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the UCF Theses and Dissertations at STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Honors Undergraduate Theses by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Recommended Citation McLamb, Lee J., "A Survey of Dissociation, Identity Distress, and Rejection Sensitivity in Adult Adoptees" (2019). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 606. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/honorstheses/606 A SURVEY OF DISSOCIATION, IDENTITY DISTRESS, AND REJECTION SENSITIVITY IN ADULT ADOPTEES by LEE J. MCLAMB A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Honors in the Major Program in Psychology in the College of Sciences and in The Burnett Honors College at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Fall Term, 2019 Thesis Chair: Dr. Steven L. Berman, Ph.D. © 2019 Lee J. McLamb ii ABSTRACT This study quantitatively measures dissociation, rejection sensitivity, and identity distress among adults who experienced adoption as a child and the relationship between these factors. This study also compares groups of adoptees recruited through Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) and social media to assess whether these two recruitment methods achieve similar results. An online survey was conducted of adopted adults and non-adopted adults to serve as controls using both MTurk and social media.
    [Show full text]
  • How Children Describe Negative Adoption Experiences
    Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects Honors Program 12-2018 How Children Describe Negative Adoption Experiences McKenzie Paskett Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/honors Part of the Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Paskett, McKenzie, "How Children Describe Negative Adoption Experiences" (2018). Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects. 306. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/honors/306 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Honors Program at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. HOW CIDLDREN DESCRIBE NEGATIVE ADOPTION EXPERIENCES by McKenzie Paskett Capstone submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for graduation with UNIVERSITY HONORS with a major in Psychology in the Department of Psychology Approved: Capstone Mentor Departmental Honors Advisor Dr. Timothy Curran Dr. Jennifer Grewe University Honors Program Director Dr. Kristine Miller UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, UT Fall2018 A A Verification ofHonors Capstone UtahStateUn iversity HONORS PROGRAM Oral Presentation The University Honors Program asks faculty mentors to verify that graduating honors students have made a formal public presentation of their capstone projects. Please submit this form to the University Honors Program office (LLCA 112) by the last day of final exams, which is also the deadline for students to submit paper copies of their final capstone projects. AFFIRMATION STATEMENT I affirm that M~ l. Ytt.~'fe:Akpresented k\lADC,r.\\c\'{W\ ·pe0Uf\\Ql, ~\Ju ~h]}V\ ~\e,,\ll(eJ (student 's name) (capstone project title) publicly on It/(;/ I?? in _Lb----i~+livvt_·_·,~ I _W_f ____ as a f b\f\fl!({A(\l,(.
    [Show full text]