Anglo Adoptions of Native Americans: Repercussions in Adolescence

Berlin, Irving

doi:10.1016/s0002-7138(10)60102-1

Cited by 16 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…In this study, the theme of loss was evident in all of the adoptive stories, regardless of how well their adoptive experience may have been. This finding is similar to that of other research conducted with Native American transracial adoptees (Berlin, 1978;Locust, 1999Locust, , 2000Peterson, 2002;Simon & Hernandez, 2008) whose participants described similar feelings of loss related to the separation from their biological roots.…”

Section: Implications For Practicesupporting

confidence: 89%

“…(Fanshel, 1972, p. 339) After the publication of the Fanshel study, other authors began writing about the challenges faced by transracially adopted Native American children. For example, Berlin (1978), reflecting on data presented at the 1977 American Academy of Child Psychiatry Conference on American Indian Children held in Bottle Hollow, Utah, stressed the importance of the loss of cultural identity experienced by Native American adolescents who were adopted into non-Native homes and the challenges experienced by these adolescents as a result of their cultural loss. In an article published shortly after the conference he states, "The loss of ties with their tribal customs and culture leaves these children without an identity and can result in an adult life of estrangement from both worlds" (Berlin, 1978, p. 388).…”

Section: Native American Focused Transracial Adoption Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Some authors (Bagley, 1991;Berlin, 1978;Feigelman, 2000;Hollingsworth, 1997;Locust, 1999Locust, , 2000Weinberg, et al, 2004;Westermeyer, 1979) argue that transracial adoption leads to long-term psychological issues for transracial adoptees, while others (Brooks & Barth, 1999;Feigelman & Silverman, 1984;Grow & Shapiro, 1974;Shireman, 1988;Shireman & Johnson, 1975Silverman, 1993;Vroegh, 1997) suggest that individuals who are transracially adopted grow up to be socially and psychologically well-adjusted. Simon, Alstein, and Melli (1994), in their concluding remarks about their 20-year longitudinal study of transracial adoptees, state, "but we found that, both during adolescence and later as adults, the [transracial adoptees] clearly were aware of and comfortable with their racial identity" (p. 115).…”

Section: Implications For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…What is known from the limited outcome studies focusing on transracially adopted Native American children is that they likely struggled with issues of identity and sense of belonging as they tried to negotiate and define their sense of self through markedly different cultural, familial, environmental, and spiritual worldviews (Bagley, 1991;Berlin, 1978;Locust, 1999Locust, , 2000McCarthy, 1993;Sharma, McGue, & Benson, 1996;Peterson, 2002;Westermeyer, 1979). The psychological, physical, cultural, and spiritual costs associated with the adoption era to Native American adoptees, families, and communities are immeasurable in terms of the collective losses experienced by those affected by the unwarranted removal and placement of Native children into nonNative homes.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, this model takes into consideration the roles and influences of adoptive parents, extended family members and social and environmental contexts on cultural and racial identity development among transracial adoptees (Baden & Steward, 2000). In addition to the clinical implications of developing a comprehensive understanding of the complexities surrounding identity development among transracial adoptees, there is also a growing body of evidence that suggests adoptees, whether they are inracially, transracially, or internationally adopted, experience emotional and psychological difficulties related to the trauma and loss associated with their adoption (Berlin, 1978;Brodzinsky, et al, 1992;Lifton, 1998Lifton, , 2003Locust, 1999Locust, , 2000Patton, 2000;Peterson, 2002;Simon & Hernandez, 2008;Trenka, Oparah, & Shin, 2006). Much of the loss associated with adoption is difficult to understand because it is steeped in many unknowns.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developing One's Self: Adoption and Identity Formation Through the Eyes of Transracially Adopted Native American Adults

Becker-Green¹

2000

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Life story methods were used to explore the contextual factors that influenced the experiences and identity formation of seven Native American adults who were transracially adopted prior to the passage of the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.These methods provided a deeper understanding of how these individuals have integrated their adoption experiences into their evolving sense of self. The life story methodology offered a way to acknowledge and validate participants' life experiences and allowed for the collection of rich information from the perspectives of the adoptees.The life story interviews were structured to gather information on the influence of one's adoptive family and cultural, social, and educational experiences on particpants' developing sense of self. Even though an interview guide was developed for use in the study, each story uniquely unfolded in a manner the participant was comfortable sharing.The study examined the life stories for patterns or emerging themes related to identity development at different points in the narrators' life cycles in order to develop an aggregate account of the contextual factors influencing identity formation as well as a collective understanding of sense of self. The study identified 12 contextual factors that have both positively and negatively influenced identity development among the participants throughout their lifespan. These factors are: 1) adoptive family;2) community; 3) educational experiences; 4) religion/spirituality; 5) travel; 6) exposure to cultural experiences; 7) employment; 8) friendships; 9) peer groups; 10) military; 11) societal messages, and 12) reconnection to tribal heritage. Overall, findings from this study suggest that the majority of participants have developed strong Native American, multi-cultural, and/or bi-cultural identities that incorporate their various experiences as transracial adoptees.

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Section: Implications For Practicesupporting

confidence: 89%

Section: Native American Focused Transracial Adoption Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Implications For Future Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Developing One's Self: Adoption and Identity Formation Through the Eyes of Transracially Adopted Native American Adults

Becker-Green¹

2000

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Effects of changing native American cultures on child development

Berlin

1987

J. Community Psychol.

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Dislocation of native American tribes and pueblos and the alteration of traditional ways of earning a living, with ensuing poverty, on dislocated reservations has had a major impact on many native American communities. Poverty, hopelessness, and the attractiveness of Anglo possessions have led to reducing the importance of tradition and ancient culture in the everyday life of many American Indians. Under these circumstances, adult alcoholism reduces the capacity to parent infants and children and results in developmental deviations. Child abuse and neglect result in developmental problems noted in poor school performance, depression, adolescent alcoholism and suicide, etc. Efforts of a few American Indian communities to emphasize the teaching of traditional ways and to deal with community problems in new ways are described. They are encouraging. These pilot efforts, which emanate from the tribe or are encouraged and helped along by mental health consultants, begin to alter the status and sense of well‐being of the adults and adolescents. Some pilot projects described here deal with altering the young, “high‐risk,” adolescent woman's image and understanding of herself and with her subsequent parenting of children, with its profound effect on newborn infants and their development. The effort of these projects is to reverse the maldevelopment of the young in the hope that more integrated, competent, and creative native American adolescents and adults will enhance the teaching and learning of tradition—that these efforts will help more native Americans to find ways of using the tools of modern Anglo society so they do not do away with the ancient customs and traditions and their healthy impact on daily living.

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Psychopathology and Its Antecedents among American Indian Adolescents

Berlin

1986

Advances in Clinical Child Psychology

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Anglo Adoptions of Native Americans: Repercussions in Adolescence

Cited by 16 publications

References 1 publication

Developing One's Self: Adoption and Identity Formation Through the Eyes of Transracially Adopted Native American Adults

Developing One's Self: Adoption and Identity Formation Through the Eyes of Transracially Adopted Native American Adults

Effects of changing native American cultures on child development

Psychopathology and Its Antecedents among American Indian Adolescents

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