Adoption: identity construction and social media
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60114/rbtf.v14i1.157Keywords:
Adoption, Identity construction, Search for origins, Social mediaAbstract
Identity construction is a fundamental lifelong task; for adoptees, it is a complex process where traumatic aspects and biographical discontinuity intertwine with vital events. This article analyzes this trajectory with a focus on the search for origins in the digital era and the impact of social networks. Through a literature review and based on examples extracted from clinical cases, we investigated how technological transformations influence this path. The objective is to broaden the understanding of how digital advances have brought significant changes to the identity process, offering new possibilities for self-exploration and transforming family dynamics.
References
Adelson, J. (Ed.). (1980). Handbook of adolescent psychology. Wiley. https://share.google/zBbCG4ws8F6gO11ue
Andolfi, M. (2017). La crisi adolescenziale nelle famiglie adottive. In M. Andolfi, M. Chistolini, & A. D’Andrea (Eds.), La famiglia adottiva tra crisi e sviluppo (pp. 168–192). FrancoAngeli. https://share.google/kawxObsI9e6d7cu4j
Barbieri, G. L., & Meloni, M. C. (2012). Il virtuale attenuato di Facebook e il gioco dell’identità dell’adolescente. Ecologia della Mente, 35, 223–239. https://doi.org/10.1712/1205.13351
Barbieri, M., & Benini, C. (2013). Adozioni e psicoterapia. Alpes. https://share.google/kBoGAXyLCK5QZlc3J
Benini, C. (2017). Adozione e ricerca delle origini ai tempi di Facebook. Terapia Familiare, 115, 27–46. https://doi.org/10.3280/TF2017-115003
Bertetti, B. (2013). Adottivi italiani alla ricerca delle origini: Voci dal web. Minori Giustizia, 2, 203–211. https://www.torrossa.com/en/resources/an/2623230
Brodzinsky, D. M., Schechter, M. D., & Henig R. M. (1990). Being adopted: The lifelong search for self. Anchor Books. https://share.google/SlzlSlOwUEJcEK5Lm
Brodzinsky, D., Gunnar, M., & Palacios, J. (2022). Adoption and trauma: Risks, recovery, and the lived experience of adoption. Child Abuse & Neglect, 130, 105309. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105309
Carli, R., & Paniccia, R. M. (2003). Analisi della domanda. Teoria e intervendo in psicología clínica. Il Mulino. https://share.google/OhsbDocVLNs0Nljvs
Cigoli, V. (2006). L’albero della discendenza. Clinica dei corpi familiari. FrancoAngeli. https://share.google/iIknx47Ly39fIDOY9
Crittenden, P. M. (1999). Attaccamento in età adulta. L’approccio dinamico-maturativo all’adult attachment interview. Italia: Raffaello Cortina Editore https://share.google/reesrFZujAoCS1acZ
D’Andrea, A. (2002). O casal adotante. In M. Andolfi (Ed.), A crise do casal. (pp. 233–247). Artmed. https://share.google/z21zBJKiYW6h8tZVP
De Bernart, R. (2019). Immagine e implicito. Psicobiettivo, 39(1), 27–40. https://doi.org/10.3280/PSOB2019-001004
Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity youth and crisis. Norton. https://share.google/RxgMDGDvjkz8VqaoV
Farr, R. H., Grant-Marsney, H. A., & Grotevant, H. D. (2014). Adoptees’ contact with birth parents in emerging adulthood: The role of adoption communication and attachment to adoptive parents. Family Process, 53(4), 656–671. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12069
Finamori, S., & Silva, A. B. M. D. (2020). Identidade e pertencimento: grupos de apoio à adoção e direito às origens. Sexualidad, Salud y Sociedad (Rio de Janeiro), 295–317. https://doi.org/10.1590/1984-6487.sess.2019.33.14.a
Fivush, R. (2008). Remembering and reminiscing: How individual lives are constructed in family narratives. Memory Studies, 1(1), 49–58. https://doi.org/10.1177/1750698007083888
Fogarolo A. (2013). Do you speak Facebook? Guida per genitori e insegnanti al linguaggio del social network. Erickson. https://share.google/YAY85HA83KpOTOgIh
Fonagy, P., & Target, M. (1997). Attachment and reflective function: Their role in self-organization. Development and Psychopathology, 9(4), 679–700. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579497001399
Fonseca, C. (2012). O direito às origens: segredo e desigualdade no controle de informações sobre a identidade pessoal. Revista de Antropologia, 53(2), 493–526. https://doi.org/10.11606/2179-0892.ra.2010.36434
Fursland, E. (2010). Facing up to Facebook: A survival guide for adoptive families. BAAF. https://share.google/blPXedMUv4Vsz6ziX
Galli, J., & Viero, F. (Eds.). (2001). Fallimenti adottivi: prevenzione e riparazione. Armando. https://share.google/P1R3ZIm86mInzHvzW
Habermas, T. (2007). How to tell a life: The development of the cultural concept of biography. Journal of Cognition and Development, 8(1), 1–31. https://doi.org/10.1080/15248370709336991
Juffer, F., & van IJzendoorn, M. H. (2005). Behavior problems and mental health referrals of international adoptees: A meta-analysis. JAMA, 293(20), 2501–2515. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.293.20.2501
Lima, D. S. (2022). Devolução na adoção de crianças e adolescentes [Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso, Universidade Federal da Integração Latino-Americana]. Repositório Digital UNILA. https://dspace.unila.edu.br/handle/123456789/6881
Lorenzini, S. (2004). Adozione internazionale: genitori e figli tra estraneità e familiarità. Perdisa. https://www.libreriauniversitaria.it/adozione-internazionale-genitori-figli-estraneita/libro/9788883722165?srsltid=AfmBOoqF-rPbIjRaYMpidN6o2fFbi-uu7pGVgIf7K5igU7R5JbyQJwA0
Lucchese, A. (2020). Vida de adotivo: a adoção do ponto de vista dos filhos. Physalis.
Manfrida, G. (1998). La narrazione psicoterapeutica: invenzione, persuasione e tecniche retoriche in terapia familiare. FrancoAngeli. https://share.google/UFg1E4zZZkMlfC8y3
McAdams, D. P. (1998). The role of defense in the life story. Journal of Personality, 66(6), 1125–1146. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6494.00044
Miliotti, A. G. (2011). Ci vuole un paese: adozione e ricerca delle origini. Testimonianze e strumenti per un viaggio possibile. FrancoAngeli. https://share.google/8jPNV5lS7NvgXNHJY
Motta, M. A. P. (2011). Mães abandonadas: a entrega de um filho em adoção. Cortez. https://share.google/g7BqimZkU3pAWyHBT
Neil, E., & Beek, M. (2020). Respecting children’s relationships and identities in adoption. In The Routledge handbook of Adoption (pp. 76–89). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429432040-6
Siegel, D. H. (2012). Social networking and ethnoracial searches by adoptees. Social Work, 57(3), 257–263.
Vadilonga, F. (2004). Abbandono e adozione. Terapia Familiare, 74, 1000–1029. https://share.google/QXgMvcW4Otw5ZB5IE
Vieira, A. G., & Henriques, M. R. (2014). A construção narrativa da identidade. Psicologia: Reflexão e Crítica, 27(1), 163–170. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0102-79722014000100018
Von Korff, L., & Grotevant, H. D. (2011). Contact in adoption and adoptive identity formation: The mediating role of family conversation. Journal of Family Psychology, 25(3), 393–401. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023388
Watzlawick, P., Beavin, J. H., & Jackson, D. D. (1967). Pragmatica della comunicazione umana. Studio dei modelli interattivi, delle patologie e dei paradossi. W. W. Norton & Co. https://share.google/TQNYjcdQC1pe49S65
Weber, L. N. D. (2011). Aspectos psicológicos da adoção. Juruá Editora. https://share.google/TQNYjcdQC1pe49S65
Whatson, B. L., Danquah, A., Charlton, G., Murray, C., Haw, R., & Taylor, P. (2025). Adopted adults’ motivation, decision making, and experience of searching for birth family: A systematic review and meta-ethnography of the qualitative literature. Adoption Quarterly, 28(4), 483–510. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926755.2024.2357759
Woodward, K. (2003). Identidade e diferença: Uma introdução teórica e conceitual. In T. T. da Silva (Org.), Identidade e diferença: A perspectiva dos estudos culturais. (pp. 7–72). Vozes. https://share.google/sz5lMksAQsSwqHZqi
Yngvesson, B. (2007). Parentesco reconfigurado no espaço da adoção. Cadernos Pagu, 29, 111–138. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0104-83332007000200006
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Chiara Benini

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.







