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Toward an Organizational‐Relational Model of Open Adoption
Author(s) -
SILVERSTEIN DEBORAH R.,
DEMICK JACK
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
family process
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.011
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1545-5300
pISSN - 0014-7370
DOI - 10.1111/j.1545-5300.1994.00111.x
Subject(s) - openness to experience , variety (cybernetics) , psychology , miller , social psychology , triad (sociology) , confidentiality , knowledge management , sociology , computer science , computer security , artificial intelligence , psychoanalysis , ecology , biology
Clinicians and social scientists have attempted to demonstrate the advisability of open versus closed adoption (communication and/or contact vs. no communication and/or contact between biological and adoptive parents) from a variety of theoretical perspectives. In our article, we seek a conceptual framework that will (a) elaborate how such divergent conclusions about openness versus confidentiality have heretofore been drawn, and (b) provide a comprehensive analysis of the behavior and experiences of all members of the adoption triad (birthparents, adoptive parents, adoptees). Employing structural aspects of organismic‐developmental theory (Werner, 1957) and dynamic aspects of self‐in‐relation theory (Miller, 1976), we propose an organizational‐relational approach to open adoption. Preliminary research findings are also provided.