Narrative and Fantasy in Adoption

Abstract

Adoption touches on basic personal and cultural narratives, emotions and fantasies surrounding the self and family. Amal Treacher and ***Ilan Katz explore the narratives of all those involved in the process — both professionals and those with personal investments. They draw on contemporary theory of narrative and psychoanalytic theory of fantasy in order to explore and understand some of the issues arising in adoption. A central contention is that all identity, whether adopted or not, is multifaceted, inherently conflicted and constantly developing. The theoretical and emotional endeavour is to place this view of identity as a central backbone to understanding adoption. The authors argue that many narratives and fantasies function to pass over problematical feelings and fantasies. For example, life story books can silence the difficulties experienced for the adoptee and may not allow space for an exploration of troublesome feelings and fantasies. They contend that maturity is based on the capacity to face up to contradictions and conflict, and to allow for such complex narratives.