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" Adoption as Trauma: "
Robert, Rachel E.
Eaton, Holli M R
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Latin Dissertation
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| Language of Document
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English
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| Record Number
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1114101
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| Doc. No
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TLpq2403069602
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| Main Entry
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Eaton, Holli M R
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Robert, Rachel E.
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| Title & Author
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Adoption as Trauma:\ Robert, Rachel E.Eaton, Holli M R
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| College
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Azusa Pacific University
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| Date
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2020
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| student score
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2020
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| Degree
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Psy.D.
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| Page No
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119
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| Abstract
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Adoption, in and of itself, is only plausible due to the presence or history of trauma. Every event prior to adoption, during the time of adoption, and following adoption is characterized by, at minimum, implicit trauma and, possibly, explicit trauma. Adoption is inherently and consequently only possible following the traumatic loss of a primary attachment figure either through death, abandonment or voluntary relinquishment, or involuntary termination of parental rights due to severe abuse or neglect. Additionally, foster and adopted children may have experienced adverse living conditions, separation, relocation, or multiple placements, overt and covert loss, prenatal exposure to alcohol or illicit substances, parental substance abuse, parental mental illness, and/or domestic violence. Such adverse childhood experiences can have enduring implications on the child’s intrapsychic formation, attachment representations, and neurobiological development. Given the child’s sensitive history, adoptive families would benefit from the philosophical understanding that adoption fundamentally involves trauma. However, adoption does not have to further traumatize the child or family. Optimally, adoption is redemptive. Adoption can act as a pathway to redeemed attachment through the formation of a new family system, characterized by healthy assimilation and secure attachments; redeemed trauma, including comfort and healing for adverse experiences; and redeemed neurobiological functioning by recapturing brain health through neuroplasticity. Considering this theoretical orientation, adoptive families may come to understand their adopted child’s emotional and behavioral presentation through an attachment-based, trauma-informed, and neurobiological lens, and thus have the empathy, capacity, and resources to respond appropriately.
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| Subject
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Adoption
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Adverse childhood experiences
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Attachment theory
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Foster care
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Theoretical
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Trauma-informed care
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