Adopted children can appear to resemble their adoptive parents due to a fascinating phenomenon linked to emotional connection and learned facial expressions.
The Role of Attunement
The key factor is a concept called attunement. Attunement refers to the deep, reciprocal connection between parent and child, where the parent is highly responsive to the child's emotional needs. This connection influences the child's development in several ways.
- Affect Regulation: Through attunement, a child learns "affect regulation." This means they begin to understand and correctly display facial expressions that match their emotions.
Learned Facial Expressions
According to research, attunement has an indirect effect: children begin to mirror the facial expressions of their adoptive parents (Drew, Reference Text). They unconsciously learn and adopt these expressions, leading to a perceived similarity in appearance over time.
In essence, it's not about genetics but about learned behavior. A child, seeking connection and mirroring their caregivers, adopts their expressions, gestures, and mannerisms, creating a visible resemblance.
