Open Adoption and Chid's Further Socialization

Abstract

Contribution discusses possible positive and negative effects to those who are adopted or taken under the foster care. On the other hand, openness within adoption in most cases is presented in a positive way, by becoming increasingly common, especially due to a growing recognition of the benefits of allowing an adopted child to establish or maintain connections with the birth family. Although many studies have shown a relation between adoption and later difficulties, there is no clear evidence that adoption could cause behavioral problems in child’s later development periods. Many authors would argue that this process has also negative influence, especially dealing with adoptees’ self-identity formation, social attachment, and communication with others. Attention is devoted to these children’ abilities to develop their own relationships with other friends and mainly with step-parents. Teenage period is stressed when identification challenges take over other developmental necessities and social attachment is developed. That is why the phenomenon of open adoption in the childhood is mainly presented in the context of its influence to a child’s further psychosocial development and growth. Objective: The main objective of the contribution is to analyze theoretically adoptees psychosocial variables that influence their further development in the context of open adoption’s process. Method: Main method of this explorative work is a meta-analysis and more theoretical observation of previous research in the selected area. Conclusion: Openness relates to the degree to which information passes between birth and adoptive families and to the level of contact and relationship between these families.