"You Don't Know What You Don't Know": Mitigating Uncertainty in Transracial Adoption

Abstract

While families have long been viewed as complex and interrelated entities, many factors, such as transracial adoption, can add compounding layers to family dynamics. Transracial adoption represents a process that can be affected by many layers of uncertainty because not only do the adopted child(ren) and adoptive parents not look similar, their cultural experiences and backgrounds are often shaped and communicated differently. Also, according to the major tenets of uncertainty reduction theory (URT), human engagement can be mired by many unknowns, which can create feelings of anxiety and dissonance within the individuals. This case study expounds upon the multifaceted nature of transracial adoption through the theoretical lens of uncertainty reduction. An analysis of the Smith family explores how unknowns permeated the family’s journey through transracial adoption. The case study lends particular attention to how the family has used a mix of passive, active, and interactive strategies to reduce cognitive and behavioral uncertainties and construct a redefined, racially mixed family structure.