Greenbaum, Hillary, M.A., Creating A Self-Identity: An Adoptee'S Challenge Progress: Family Systems Research and Therapy, 1994, Volume 3, (pp. 53-67). Encino, CA : Phillips Graduate Institute.

This qualitative study explored adoptees' development of a self-identity. The purpose of this study was to understand how a search for and reunion with biological parents affect the adoptee's development of a self-identity. Explored here were two main research questions. First, how do adopted individuals develop a self-identity throughout the adoptive family life cycle? Second, how does searching, meeting, or not searching for biological parents affect this process? The paper reviews literature on the process of self-identity development of adoptees throughout the life cycle and examines the effects of research and reunion with biological parents on an adoptee's self-identity. Suggestions for therapeutic work with adoptees in self-identity development are also made. Supplementing the literature reviews were interviews with nine adoptees varying in age from 15 to 46. Three of these participants had contacted their biological parents. The results of this study differed from the reviewed literature in that non-searching adoptees were fearful of being rejected by birth parents and abandoned by their adoptive parents, as well as being fearful of the unknown. Moreover, findings suggest that adoptees compelled to search, regardless of the outcome, often feel more complete in their identity formation and emerge with a stronger ego identity. Further research is recommended using questionnaires and a larger sample of adoptees so as to better help therapists work with both searchers and non-searchers in treatment.

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