Date of Award
9-1981
Document Type
Thesis
First Advisor
Wendell Rivers
Abstract
The thesis, Adoptees' Perception of Their Biological Parents' Characteristics by Jo Anne C. Rocklage, explores how adoptees perceive and project attributes onto their biological parents in the absence of direct knowledge. The study acknowledges the complex emotional and psychological experiences of adoptees, including issues of identity, self-concept, and the desire to search for their origins. It reviews adoption literature, including the "Adoption Triangle" framework, which examines the relationships among adoptees, biological parents, and adoptive parents. The thesis also discusses psychological concepts such as the "family romance game," in which adoptees construct imagined narratives about their origins.
To investigate these perceptions, Rocklage utilizes case studies and projective drawing techniques, analyzing how adoptees express their beliefs about their biological parents. The research suggests that adoptees often attribute idealized or negative characteristics to their biological parents based on limited information, adoptive family dynamics, and societal narratives about adoption. The study applies psychological theories related to perception, projection, and self-concept to interpret these attributions.
By integrating adoption psychology with projective analysis, this thesis contributes to a more humanistic understanding of adoptee identity formation. It highlights the importance of access to personal history and the impact of secrecy in adoption records on self-perception and emotional well-being.
Recommended Citation
Rocklage, Jo Anne C., "Adoptees' Perception of Their Biological Parents' Characteristics" (1981). Theses. 1303.
https://digitalcommons.lindenwood.edu/theses/1303
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