Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

“Roots that Clutch”

What Adoption and Foster Care Can Tell Us About Adult Development

  • Chapter
Book cover Handbook of Adult Development

Part of the book series: The Springer Series in Adult Development and Aging ((SSAD))

  • 720 Accesses

Abstract

In the United States, there are approximately 1 million children who were adopted1 currently living in adoptive families, 4% of families with a child who was adopted, and 5 million individuals of all ages who were adopted. About 150,000 children of all races and nationalities are adopted each year.2 At any one time, about 500,000 people are seeking to adopt with 3.3 adoption seekers for every actual adoption. As of 1998, the number of children in foster care needing adoptive families also reached approximately 150,000 in number. All of these numbers have increased and are expected to increase even more in the future. Both federal and state legislators have recently launched adoption initiatives to increase, in a timely fashion, the number of foster children who find permanent homes. The Benchmark Adoption Survey (Donaldson Adoption Institute, 1997)—the first in-depth look at American public attitudes toward adoption based on a probability sample of 1554 adults—indicated that: (1) 6 of 10 Americans have personal experience with adoption (i.e. either a family member, close friend, or they themselves were adopted, adopted a child, or placed a child for adoption); and (2) one third have considered adopting a child at least somewhat seriously.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 259.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 379.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 329.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Abbey, A., Andrews, F. M., & Halman, L. J. (1994). Infertility and parenthood: Does becoming a parent increase well-being? Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 62(2), 398–403.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ainsworth, M. D. S. (1989). Attachments beyond infancy. American Psychologist, 44, 709–716.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Alexander, R., & Curtis, C. M. (1996). A review of empirical research involving transracial adoption of African American children. Journal of Black Psychology, 22, 223–235.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Altman, I., & Rogoff, B. (1987). World views in psychology: Trait, interactional, organismic and transactional perspectives. In D. Stokols & I. Altman (Eds.), Handbook of environmental psychology (pp. 7–40). New York: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen, R. S. (1988). Why adoptees search: Motives and more. Child Welfare, 67, 15–19.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Andersen, R. S. (1989). The nature of adoptee search: Adventure, cure, or growth? Child Welfare, 68, 623–631.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen, S. M., & Berk, M. S. (1998). The social-cognitive model of transference: Experiencing past relationships in the present. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 7(4), 109–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anthony, E. J., & Koupernik, C. (Eds.) (1974). The child in his family: Children at psychiatric risk, Vol. 3. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Antonovsky, A., & Sourani, T. (1998). Family sense of coherence and family adaptation. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 50, 79–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Apparo, H. (1997). International adoption of children: The Indian scene. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 20, 2–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aronson, E., Ronayne, M., Hayaki, J., & Demick, J. (1994). Adopted does not mean seeing the world through rose-colored glasses. Paper presented at the annual meetings of the Eastern Psychological Association, Boston, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bacharach, C. A. (1986). Adopted plans, adopted children, and adoptive mothers. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 48(2), 243–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barth, R. P., & Brooks, D. (1997). A longitudinal study of family structure and size and adoption outcomes. Adoption Quarterly, 1(1) 29–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Benson, P. L., Sharma, A. R., & Roehlkepartain, E. C. (1994). Growing up adopted: A portrait of adolescents and their families. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bowlby, J. (1979). The making and breaking of affectional bonds. London: Tavistock.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brodzinsky, D. M. (1987). Looking at adoption through rose-colored glasses: A critique of Marquis and Detweiler’s “Does adopted mean different?” An attributional analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(2), 394–398.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brodzinsky, D. M., Schecter, D. E., Braff, A. M., & Singer, L. M. (1984). Psychological and academic adjustment in adopted children. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 52, 582–590.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carlson, E. A. (1998). A prospective longitudinal study of attachment disorganization/disorientation. Child Development, 69(4), 1107–1128.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chisholm, K. (1998). A three-year follow-up of attachment and indiscriminate friendliness in children adopted from Romanian orphanages. Child Development, 69(4), 1092–1106.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chisholm, K., Carter, M. C, Ames, E. W., & Morison, S. J. (1995). Attachment security and indiscriminately friendly behavior in children adopted from Romanian orphanages. Development and Psychopathology, 7, 283–294.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, E. S., & Donley, K. S. (1990). History, values, and placement policy issues in adoption. In D. M. Brodzinsky & M. D. Schecter (Eds.), The psychology of adoption (pp. 273–294). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corrigan, P. W., & Penn, D. L. (1999). Lessons from social psychology on discreting psychiatric stigma. American Psychologist, 54(9), 765–776.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Curtis, C. M. (1996). The adoption of African American children by whites: A renewed conflict. Families in Society: The Journal of Contemporary Human Services, 156–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • d’Arrigo, M., & Demick, J. (in press). Age and gender as determinants of body experience from late adolescence through young adulthood. Journal of Adult Development.

    Google Scholar 

  • Demick, J. (1993). Adaptation of marital couples to open versus closed adoption: A preliminary investigation. In J. Demick, K. Bursik, & R. DiBiase (Eds.), Parental development (pp. 175–201). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Demick, J. (1996). Life transitions as a paradigm for the study of adult development. In M. L. Commons, J. Demick, & C. Goldberg (Eds.), Clinical approaches to adult development (pp. 335–356). Norwood, NJ: Ablex.

    Google Scholar 

  • Demick, J. (1999). Parental development: Theory and practice. In R. L. Mosher, D. J. Youngman, & J. M. Day (Eds.), Human development across the life span. Westport, CT: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Demick, J. (2002). Stages of parental development. In M. Borstein (Ed.), Handbook of Parenting, Vol. 3, Being and becoming a parent (2nd ed., pp. 389–413). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Demick, J., & Andreoletti, C. (1995). Some relations between clinical and environmental psychology. Environment and Behavior, 27(1), 56–72.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demick, J., Ishii, S., & Inoue, W. (1997). Body and self experience: Japan versus USA. In S. Wapner, J. Demick, T. Yamamoto, & T. Takahashi (Eds.), Handbook of Japan–United States environment–behavior research: Toward a transactional approach (pp. 83–99). New York: Plenum Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Demick, J., & Wapner, S. (1988a). Children-in-environments: Physical, interpersonal, and sociocultural aspects. Children’s Environments Quarterly, 7(1), 28–38.

    Google Scholar 

  • Demick, J., & Wapner, S. (1988b). Open and closed adoption: A developmental conceptualization. Familty Process, 27, 229–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Demick, J., & Wapner, S. (1992). Transition to parenthood: Developmental changes in experience and action. In T. Yamamoto & S. Wapner (Eds.), Developmental psychology of life transitions (pp. 243–265). Tokyo: Kyodo Shuppan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donaldson Adoption Institute (1997). The benchmark adoption survey. New York: Donaldson Adoption Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eheart, B. K., & Power, M. B. (1995). Adoption: Understanding the past, present, and future through stories. The Sociological Quarterly, 36(1), 197–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elkind, D. (1996). Inhelder and Piaget on adolescence and adulthood: A postmodern appraisal. Psychological Science, 7(4), 216–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erikson, E. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. New York: W. W. Norton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Feigelman, W. (1997). Adopted adults: Comparisons with persons raised in conventional families. Marriage & Family Review, 25(3/4), 199–223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Finley, G. E. (1999). Children of adoptive families. In W. K. Silverman & T. H. Ollendick (Eds.), Developmental issues in the clinical treatment of children (pp. 358–370). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frable, D. E. (1993a). Being and feeling unique: Statistical deviance and psychological marginality. Journal of Personality, 61(1), 85–110.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Frable, D. E. (1993b). Dimensions of marginality: Distinctions among those who are different. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 19(4), 370–380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frable, D. E., Blackstone, T., & Scherbaum, C. (1990). Marginal and mindful: Deviants in social interactions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59(1), 140–149.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gair, S. (1998). Coping with differences in mothering adopted children: Considering a broader model. Adoption & Fostering, 22(2), 16–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Golombok, S., Cook, R., Bish, A., & Murray, C. (1995). Families created by the new reproductive technologies: Quality of parenting and social and emotional development of the children. Child Development, 66, 285–298.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grotevant, H. D. (1997). Coming to terms with adoption: The construction of identity from adolescence into adulthood. Adoption Quarterly, 1(1), 3–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hazan, C, & Shaver, P. R. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 511–524.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hoksbergen, R. A. C. (1998). Changes in motivation for adoption, value orientations and behavior in three generations of adoptive parents. Adoption Quarterly, 2(2), 37–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollingshead, A. B., & Redlich, F. C. (1958). Social class and mental illness: A community study. New York: John Wiley & Sons.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hoopes, J. L. (1990). Adoption and identity formation. In D. M. Brodzinsky & M. D. Schecter (Eds.), The psychology of adoption (pp. 144–166). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howe, D. (1995). Adoption and attachment. Adoption & Fostering, 19(4), 7–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howe, D. (1996). Adopters’ relationships with their adopted children from adolescence to early adulthood. Adoption & Fostering, 20(3), 5–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Howe, D. (1998). Adoption outcome research and practical judgment. Adoption & Fostering, 22(2), 6–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ihilevich, D., & Gleser, G. C. (1993). Defense mechanisms: Their classification, correlates, and measurement with the Defense Mechanism Inventory. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources, inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaden, S. E. (1958). A formal-comparative analysis of the relationship between the structuring of marital interaction and Rorschach blot stimuli. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Clark University, Worcester, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaplan, J., & Demick, J. (1999). Identity development in black adolescents adopted by same-race versus transracial parents. Worcester, MA: University of Massachusetts Medical School.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kaye, K., & Warren, S. (1988). Discourse about adoption in adoptive families. Journal of Family Psychology, 1(4), 406–433.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly, M. M., Towner-Thyrum, E., Rigby, A., & Martin, B. (1995). Adjustment and identity formation in adopted and nonadopted young adults: Contributions of family environment. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 68(3), 497–500.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kivnick, H. Q. (1985). Grandparenthood and mental health. In V. L. Bengtson & J. F. Robertson (Eds.), Grandparenthood (pp. 211–224). Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langer, E. J. (1997). The power of mindful learning. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lerner, R. M., Iwawaki, S., Chihara, T., & Sorrell, G. T. (1980). Self-concept, self-esteem, and body attitudes among Japanese male and female adolescents. Child Development, 51, 847–855.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • March, K. (1995). Perception of adoption as social stigma: Motivation for search and reunion. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 57, 653–660.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marquis, K. S., & Detweiler, R. A. (1985). Does adopted mean different? An attributional analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 48(4), 1054–1066.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McRoy, R. G., Grotevant, H. D., & White, K. L. (1988). Openness in adoption: New practices, new issues. New York: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melina, L. (1989). NACAC speakers describe seven core issues of adoption. Adopted Child 8(12), 2–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melito, R. (1985). Adaptation in family systems: A developmental perspective. Family Process, 24, 89–100.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Melito, R. (1988). Combining individual psychodynamics with structural family therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 14, 29–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyers, J., & Demick, J. (2002). Laypersons’ judgments of psychopathology in adopted and non-adopted individuals. Worcester, MA: University of Massachusetts Medical School.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miall, C. E. (1987). The stigma of adoptive parent status: Perceptions of community attitudes toward adoption and the experience of informal social sanctioning. Family Relations, 36, 34–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miall, C. E. (1998). Community assessments of adoption issues: Open adoption, birth reunions, and the disclosure of confidential information. Journal of Family Issues, 19(5), 556–577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Partridge, P. C. (1991). The particular challenges of being adopted. Smith College Studies in Social Work, 197–208.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pepper, S. C. (1942). World hypotheses. Berkeley: University of California Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pepper, S. C. (1967). Concept and quality: A world hypothesis. LaSalle, IL: Open Court.

    Google Scholar 

  • Polkinghorne, D. E. (1991). Narrative and self-concept. Journal of Narrative and Life History, 1(2–3), 135–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, E. B., & Horner, T. M. (1991). Birthparent romances and identity fantasies in adopted children. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 61(1), 70–77.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, M. S. (1987). New directions for research on the psychological maltreatment of children. American Psychologist, 42, 166–171.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenfeld, A. A., Pilowsky, D. J., Fine, P., Thorpe, M., Fein, E., Simms, M. D., Halfen, N„ Irwin, M., Alfaro, J., Saletsky, R., & Nickman, S. (1997). Foster care: An update. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 36(4), 448–457.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rushton, A., & Minnis, H. (1997). Annotation: Transracial family placements. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 38(2), 147–159.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. (1984, March). Resilient children. Psychology Today, pp. 57–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schecter, M. D., & Bertocci, D. (1990). The meaning of the search. In D. M. Brodzinsky & M. D. Schecter (Eds.), The psychology of adoption (pp. 62–90). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, A. R., McGue, M. K., & Benson, R L. (1996a). The emotional and behavioral adjustment of United States adopted adolescents: Part 1: An overview. Children and Youth Services Review, 18, 83–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, A. R., McGue, M. K., & Benson, P. L. (1996b). The emotional and behavioral adjustment of United States adopted adolescents: Part 2. Age at placement. Children and Youth Services Review, 18, 101–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sharma, A. R., McGue, M. K., & Benson, P. L. (1998). The psychological adjustment of United States adopted adolescents and their nonadopted siblings. Child Development, 69(3), 791–812.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Silverstein, D., & Demick, J. (1994). Toward an organizational–relational model of open adoption. Family Process, 33(2), 111–124.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Singer, L. M., Brodzinsky, D. M., Ramsay, D., Steir, M., & Waters, E. (1985). Mother–infant attachment in adoptive families. Child Development, 56(6), 1543–1551.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Soparker, K. Baker, G., Pinet, M., Sandberg, E., & Demick, J. (2002). Community attitudes toward open and closed adoption: 1984 and 1997. Manuscript in preparation. Worcester, MA: University of Massachusetts Medical School.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vroegh, K. S. (1997). Transracial adoptees: Developmental status after 17 years. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 67(4), 568–575.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wapner, S. (1969). Organismic-developmental theory: Some applications to cognition. In J. Langer, P. Mussen, & N. Covington (Eds.), Trends and issues in developmental psychology (pp. 35–67). New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wapner, S., & Demick, J. (1990). Development of experience and action: Levels of integration in human functioning. In G. Greenberg & E. Tobach (Eds.), Theories of the evolution of knowing. The T. C. Schneirla conference series, Vol. 4 (pp. 47–68). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawerence Erlbaum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wapner, S., & Demick, J. (1998). Developmental analysis: A holistic, developmental, systems-oriented perspective. In W. Damon (Series Ed.) & R. M. Lerner (Vol. Ed.), Handbook of child psychology: Vol. 1: Theoretical models of human development, 5th edit. (pp. 761–805). New York: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wapner, S., & Demick, J. (1999). Developmental theory and clinical practice: A holistic, developmental, systems-oriented approach. In W. K. Silverman & T. H. Ollendick (Ed.), Developmental issues in the clinical treatment of children (pp. 3–30). Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wapner, S., & Demick, J. (2000). Person-in-environment psychology: A holistic, developmental, systems-oriented approach. In W. K. Silverman & T. H. Ollendick (Eds.), Developmental issues in the clinical treatment of children (pp. 3–30). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wapner, S., & Demick, J. (2002). The increasing contexts of context in the study of environment-behavior relations. In R. B. Bechtel & A. Churchman (Eds.), Handbook of environmental psychology (pp. 3–14). New York: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weider, H. (1977). The family romance fantasies of adopted children. Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 46, 185–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, E. E. (1993). Risk and resilience in individuals with learning disabilities: Lessons learned from the Kauai longitudinal study. Learning Disabilities Research and Practice, 8, 28–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Werner, H. (1940/1957). Comparative psychology of mental development. New York: International Universities Press. (Originally published in German, 1926, and in English, 1940.)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Adoption Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA

    Jack Demick

Authors
  1. Jack Demick
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA

    Jack Demick

  2. Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA

    Carrie Andreoletti

Additional information

This chapter is dedicated to my daughter, Katie Kellerman-Demick, who has taught me more about both child and adult development than she may ever know. An abbreviated version of this chapter was presented as the plenary address at the 14th Annual Development Symposium of the Society for Research in Adult Development (SRAD), which took place at Salem State College on the eve of Katie’s Bat Mitzvah on June 18, 1999. Thank you and I love you, Katie.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Demick, J. (2002). “Roots that Clutch”. In: Demick, J., Andreoletti, C. (eds) Handbook of Adult Development. The Springer Series in Adult Development and Aging. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0617-1_25

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0617-1_25

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5160-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0617-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation