Recent studies have come to contradicting conclusions as to whether international adoptees, who experience a sudden change in language environment, lose or retain traces of their birth language (Pallier et al., 2003; Ventureyra, Pallier & Yoo, 2004; Pierce, Klein, Chen, Delcenserie, & Genesee, 2014). Though these studies have considered cortical differences between international adoptees and individuals from their birth counties, none has looked at subcortical differences in the brain between the two groups. The current project examined the frequency following response of adult Chinese international adoptees (N = 9) adopted as infants by American English-speaking families in the United States compared to native Mandarin (N = 21) and American English (N = 21) controls. Additional behavioral tasks were completed to explore different levels of linguistic features from phonetics to phonology to semantic knowledge to suprasegmental characteristics of speech. The FFR results indicate mostly good pitch tracking abilities amongst the adoptees that may support future tonal language learning in the adoptees. The behavioral data suggest that the adoptees have minimal access to all levels of linguistic levels of linguistic processing (i.e., phonetic, phonological, lexical, suprasegmental) after adoption and after early exposure to English. Overall, the data provide evidence for the neural commitment theory that humans’ language acquisition is attuned to their language environment early on in life.

abstract: International adoption in the U.S. remains a viable option for families who wish to build or expand their families; however, it has not been without controversy. Past research has sought to understand the initial and long-term psychological adjustment and racial/ethnic identity development of international and transracial adoptees. Research shows that pre-adoption adversity may be linked to the development of behavior and emotional problems, and opponents assert that international adoption strips children of their culture. Emerging research has focused on cultural socialization practices and how international and transracial adoptive families acknowledge or reject ethnic and racial differences within the family. An area less understood is how international and transracial adoptees cope with racism, prejudice, racial discrimination, and stereotyping. This study explores, using qualitative methods, the ways in which international and transracial adoptees experience and cope with racism, prejudice, racial discrimination and/or stereotyping. The personal stories of ten adult Korean adoptees are highlighted with particular attention to how interactions with adoptive family members and peers influence adoptees’ identity development, how adoptees resolve conflicts in terms of “fitting in,” and how parental/familial influence mitigates the effects of racism and racial discrimination. The study concludes with a discussion on implications for social work practice. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Social Work 2015

The aim of this study is to examine how Swedish social services work withspecifically international adopted children and their sense of belonging. We alsowant to examine how social services take the child's best interest into consideration regarding international adopted children. We chose a qualitative method with semi-structured interviews with four social workers within units for child and family support and four social workers within family law in different municipalities aroundSweden. We have studied the results using belonging as a theory and identity andethnical identity as theoretical concepts. The results show that social workersbelieve that internationally adopted children may have more difficulties to formbelonging to their family and surroundings. It also shows that the Swedishmunicipalities do not really offer specific support for adoptees. The informants havestated that they cannot guarantee the child's best interest in every situation, since itis constantly changing, individually defined and adapted to needs. We did find thatthe support that is provided for adoptees and their families is mainly preventivemeasures. This includes parental education before adoption to equip the parents withall the knowledge they may need to adhere to the child's best interest. Manyinformants also state that many of the adoptive children have special needs in formof cleft palate, mental health issues as well as cognitive delays. They also state thatmany of these children have been institutionalised in orphan care and that it cancause trauma to these children later in life, which also can be considered a specialneed. The result also shows that the social workers believe that therapy can beeffective for these children and that the municipalities state that they would buythese services if needed. The municipalities work to prevent these health issuesamong adoptees by strengthening the parents to get the same knowledge as thesocial services to be able deal with the children. The informants say that theadoptees and their families should be able to feel like a “ordinary” family withoutthe state watching them if not needed which causes a dilemma.

Vi har en uppfattning om att internationell adoption och internationellt adopterade ofta associeras med TV4:s tv-program Spårlöst. Det gör att programmet har stort inflytande över vilken bild av adoption och adopterade som sänds ut i media. Vi har därför valt att göra en kvalitativ textanalys som undersöker hur Spårlöst framställer internationell adoption och internationellt adopterade. Syftet med studien är att synliggöra och kritiskt granska framställningarna. Vi hoppas att studien ska bidra till ett mediesamhälle som inkluderar adoption och adopterade mer. Studien bygger på konstruktivism och dess inriktning socialkonstruktionism. Studiens analysmaterial är valt utifrån avsnitten som visades under säsongen hösten 2016 med hjälp av den dramaturgiska kurvan. Genom att använda oss av hermeneutiken kan vi tolka textens innehåll och urskilja framställningarna i programmet. Tolkningarna stöds även av barmhärtighetsprincipen. Studiens slutsatser är att internationell adoption främst framställs som en väg till bättre förutsättningar, men också som en vinstdrivande verksamhet och som osäkert. Ytterligare slutsatser är att adopterade ofta framställs som positiva till sin adoption. Adopterade framställs även som identitetssökande och nyfikna personer, men också som personer som värdesätter familjerelationer. / Our perception is that international adoption and international adoptees often are associated with the tv-program Spårlöst shown on TV4. This could mean that the program may have a great influence over the images of adoption and adoptees shown in media. Therefore, we have chosen to do a qualitative text analysis which examines how Spårlöst portrays international adoption and international adoptees. The purpose of the study is to highlight and critically view the portrayals. We hope our study will contribute to a more including media society concerning adoption and adoptees. The study is based on constructivism and its orientation on social constructionism. The study’s analytical material is chosen from the episodes that were shown in the fall season of 2016 by using the dramaturgical curve. We can interpret the content of the text and distinguish the portrayals in the program by using the hermeneutics. The interpretations are also supported by the principle of charity. The study’s conclusions are that international adoption mainly is portrayed as a way to better conditions, but also as a profit organization and as unsafe. Further conclusions are that adoptees often are portrayed as positive towards their adoption. The adoptees are also portrayed as identity seeking and curious people. The study also shows that adoptees value relationships within the family.