session 29 a Karen Donnet Jones

Slide1 : Adult Adoptees Search Behaviour: Dominant Motives and Emotions Adoption Conference Adelaide 2004


Search Behavior Research : Search Behavior Research External Events or Internal Processes To date -very little research has been done on the Motives and Emotions of Searching and Non-searching Adopted Adults, and how these may influence their Search Behaviours


Aim : Aim To explore if the Reversal Theory (Apter, 1984) framework could be used to show how different intra- psychic motives and emotions can affect behaviour in Searching and Non-Searching Adopted Adults


Reversal Theory (Apter,1982) Meta-motivational Modes : Reversal Theory (Apter,1982) Meta-motivational Modes Self (Serious mode ) vs. (Playful mode) (compliant mode) vs. (defiant mode) Relationships with Others Mastery mode vs. Sympathy mode ‘Self’ mode or ‘Other’ Mode


Principle characteristics of the meta-motivational modes : Principle characteristics of the meta-motivational modes


Principle characteristics of the meta-motivational modes : Principle characteristics of the meta-motivational modes


Reversal Theory : Reversal Theory Emotions 16 primary emotions correspond directly to preferred and non-preferred experiences in each of the 8 meta-motivational modes Reversals Switches between opposite modes are called ‘Reversals’, & occur as a result of ‘Contingencies, Satiation or Frustration’ Lability & Dominance


Part One (Emotions Study) : Part One (Emotions Study) Aim: To Explore if the Reversal Theory Framework could show how different Emotions underlie Searching and Non-searching Behaviors in Adult Adoptees


Predictions : Predictions The search script would evoke significantly different emotions between searching and non-searching adoptees, congruent with patterns suggested by Reversal Theory Changes in arousal would be significant between the neutral and search scripts in the direction of higher expressed emotions in relation to the search script


Participants : Participants 24 Non-searchers & 24 Searchers (N=48) Non-searchers were randomly selected from 90 adoptees who participated in a previous study Non -searchers were matched for Age and Sex with searching adoptees from the larger sample Both groups (75% Female & 25% Male) Searchers (27 to 66 yrs, Mean age 44.58 years) Non-searchers (27 to 60 yrs, Mean age 37.63 years) The majority of participants were Tasmanian,


Method & Procedure (Emotions) : Method & Procedure (Emotions) Demographic Data In-depth Interviews (taped) Individual Search & Neutral Scripts Tension and Effort Stress Inventory (TESI) x 2 Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) 2 Control measures were used to assess the participants capacity to imagine (Imagery -Clear / Unclear) x2, and the Content of the Scripts (Close / Not Close) x 2


Results (Emotions) : A highly significant 3 way interaction was found for Status x Script x Tesi emotions F(15,690) =13.87, p < .001 Results (Emotions)


Mean Searcher and Non-searcher sub-scale Scores for the 16 TESI Emotions following the Neutral Script : Mean Searcher and Non-searcher sub-scale Scores for the 16 TESI Emotions following the Neutral Script


Mean Searcher and Non-searcher Sub-scale Scores for 16 TESI Emotions following the Adoption Script : Mean Searcher and Non-searcher Sub-scale Scores for 16 TESI Emotions following the Adoption Script


Mean Scores for Anxiety ( Group x Script ) : Mean Scores for Anxiety ( Group x Script )


Mean Scores for Anger ( Group x Script ) : Mean Scores for Anger ( Group x Script )


Mean Scores for Provocativeness (Group x Script ) : Mean Scores for Provocativeness (Group x Script )


Mean Scores for Resentment (Group x Script ) : Mean Scores for Resentment (Group x Script )


Mean Scores for Gratitude (Group x Script) : Mean Scores for Gratitude (Group x Script)


Part Two (Motives) : Part Two (Motives) Aim: To Investigate Searching and Non- searching Adult Adoptee Motives when “Contemplating Searching” within a Reversal Theory Framework


Method & Procedure (Motives) State of Mind Indicator (SOMI) : Method & Procedure (Motives) State of Mind Indicator (SOMI) ‘When Contemplating the Possibility of Searching’ I wanted to: 1(a) Achieve something important to me (serious mode) 1(b) Enjoy the experience & excitement of what I’m doing (playful mode)


Slide22 : 2(a) keep within the expectations of others / society (compliance mode) 2(b) do my own thing regardless of the outcome (defiant mode) 3(a) to be in control of the situation (self-mastery mode) 3(b) to meet my own feelings and needs (self- sympathy mode) Procedure (Motives)


Procedure (Motives) : Procedure (Motives) 4(a) for others to be in control (other-mastery mode) 4(b) to meet the feelings and needs of others (other-sympathy mode)


Procedure (Motive) : Procedure (Motive) ‘Of all the choices above which one were you most aware of when contemplating searching?’ Serious / Playful Compliant / Deviant Self sympathy / Other sympathy Other mastery / Other sympathy


Predictions for Non-Searchers (Motives) : Predictions for Non-Searchers (Motives) 1. Self Mastery: wanting to be in control (seeks to feel proud, not humiliated) 2. Self Sympathy: focused on ones own feelings (seeks to feel grateful, not resentful) 3. Other Sympathy: focussed on others feelings (seeks to feel virtuous, not guilty) 4. Compliant: wanting to belong (seeks to conform, not rebel)


Predictions for Searchers (Motives) : 1. Serious: wants progress and achievement (seeks to feel calm, not anxious) 2. Self Sympathy: is focused on one’s own feelings (seeks to feel grateful, not resentful) 3. Defiant: desires to be independent (wants to be rebellious) Predictions for Searchers (Motives)


Chi-Square Test Results “Contemplating the Possibility of Searching” : Chi-Square Test Results “Contemplating the Possibility of Searching”


Motive of Searching and Non-searching Adopted Adults ‘when Contemplating Searching’ : Motive of Searching and Non-searching Adopted Adults ‘when Contemplating Searching’


Results: Searchers : Results: Searchers Serious mode (wants to achieve something important to them )  Self-sympathy mode (wants to meet their own feelings and needs)  Compliant mode (to conform to the expectations of society) 


Results: Non-searcher’s : Results: Non-searcher’s Self-mastery mode (wants to be in control)  Self sympathy mode (considers their own feelings and needs)  Other sympathy mode (considers the feelings and needs of others)  Defiant  (wants to defy the expectations of others /society)


Summary : Summary Searching is influenced by the individual adoptees dominant meta-motivational modes the capacity to Reverse between meta-motivational modes the prevailing social and legal context


Conclusions : Conclusions Apter’s (1984) Reversal Theory Model provides a meaningful framework for exploring the underlying motives and emotions of Searching and Non-searching Adoptees Normalizes different responses to search Opens the way for further Research and understanding


The End : The End


Mean Scores for MSP Sub-scales for Searchers, Non-searchers and Controls : Mean Scores for MSP Sub-scales for Searchers, Non-searchers and Controls