Abstract This qualitative study investigates the relationship between openness and identity among 15 adoptees. Several studies have argued that a high degree of openness is important for the identity of adoptees. However, few have explored this relationship. Two types of openness (biographical knowledge and communicative openness) are used to categorize the empirical material, making it possible to shed light on how different types of openness influence identity. The findings suggest that there is no direct link between a high degree of openness and positive identity formation. Rather, the relationship appears to be situational and changeable as adoptees come of age.

中文翻译：

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已知和未知的身份：成年收养者所体验的开放性和身份

摘要 这项定性研究调查了 15 名被收养者的开放性与认同之间的关系。一些研究认为，高度的开放性对于被收养者的身份很重要。然而，很少有人探索这种关系。两种类型的开放性（传记知识和交流开放性）用于对经验材料进行分类，从而可以阐明不同类型的开放性如何影响身份。研究结果表明，高度开放与积极身份形成之间没有直接联系。相反，随着被收养者年龄的增长，这种关系似乎是情境性的和多变的。