Together with a team of undergraduate research assistants, I am investigating whether attachment style predicts lie detection ability, as well as feelings of betrayal and rejection in donor-conceived adults. A sample of over 500 participants were recruited from the Donor Sibling Registry (DSR) and asked to complete a two-part study; they first responded to demographic questions, performed a lie detection task, and completed a self-report measure of attachment. They were also asked to complete a semi-structured interview about themselves, the discovery of their donor-conception, and their close relationships.

Part 1: Betrayal trauma is the result of lies and broken commitments within a relationship of trust. Oftentimes, donor-conceived people (DCP) are lied to about their genetic origins in an attempt to ‘protect’ the family. Although disclosure is highly encouraged, some parents do not tell their donor-conceived children the truth and they inadvertently discover their birth status through other means such as genetic testing. The purpose of this research was to investigate whether attachment style predicts lie detection ability in a sample of donor-conceived adults. Results from Part 1 of this investigation replicate my dissertation finding (see above; Lozano & Fraley, 2023) suggesting that highly anxious participants are more biased to detect deceit. This finding is useful insofar as it may help connect DCP (especially those who are high in attachment insecurity) with the appropriate support services.

Part 2: The results of this qualitative study are in progress!