Understanding Genealogical Bewilderment and Identity Disruption
"Genealogical bewilderment" and "identity disruption" are two terms to understand if you're an NPE or are connected to one in your circle of friends and family.
"Genealogical bewilderment" was coined in the 1950s to describe the experience adoptees were going through when separated from genetic family and raised with non-genetic family. It has been seen to occur in other situations, although research into modern-day experiences of those who make a discovery of NPE (not parent expected) via DNA testing is still in its infancy.
Identity disruption is often described as a crisis that requires changing how you see yourself connected to the people and world around you. This was specifically applied to NPEs (those who discover they are not connected to one or both parents as they previously believed) by Jodi Klugman-Rabb and also Paulette Bethel. Bethel has described a type of cycle or process similar to grief and trauma, where people progress through similar experiences - stages of denial, grief, restabilizing, and for some, a desire to advocate or help others who follow down the same path. She spoke about this on The Bradley Hall Show. I recommend a listen when you have the time. My work with the family caught in the ripples of an NPE discovery has shown me the disruption to identity can also affect other individuals in a family, and even the family unit itself.
Interested in reading more about genealogical bewilderment? Start here: