TOWARD AN ORGANIZATIONAL-RELATIONAL MODEL OF OPEN ADOPTION

Clinicians and social scientists have attempted to demonstrate the adv isability of open versus closed adoption (communication and/or contact us. no communication and/or contact between biological and adoptive p arents) from a variety of theoretical perspectives. In our article, we seek a conceptual framework that will (a) elaborate how such divergen t conclusions about openness versus confidentiality have here-tofore b een drawn, and (b) provide a comprehensive analysis of the behavior an d experiences of all members of the adoption triad (birthparents, adop tive parents, adoptees). Employing structural aspects of organismic-de velopmental theory (Werner, 1957) and dynamic aspects of self-in-relat ion theory (Miller, 1976), we propose an organizational relational app roach to open adoption. Preliminary research findings are also provide d.