Known and Unknown Identities: Openness and Identity as Experienced by Adult Adoptees
This qualitative study investigates the relationship between openness and identity among 15 adoptees. Several studies have argued that a high degree of openness is important for the identity of adoptees. However, few have explored this relationship. Two types of openness (biographical knowledge and...
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Published in | Adoption quarterly Vol. 22; no. 2; pp. 135 - 156 |
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Main Author | |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Abingdon
Routledge
03.04.2019
Taylor & Francis Ltd |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | This qualitative study investigates the relationship between openness and identity among 15 adoptees. Several studies have argued that a high degree of openness is important for the identity of adoptees. However, few have explored this relationship. Two types of openness (biographical knowledge and communicative openness) are used to categorize the empirical material, making it possible to shed light on how different types of openness influence identity. The findings suggest that there is no direct link between a high degree of openness and positive identity formation. Rather, the relationship appears to be situational and changeable as adoptees come of age. |
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ISSN: | 1092-6755 1544-452X |
DOI: | 10.1080/10926755.2019.1625834 |