The Psychology of Adoption

Rating:
Summary: The Facts and The Feelings
Review: We are surrounded by books written about adoption issues from each participant's perspective - the adoptee, the birth parents, the adoptive parents, and even agency workers and counselors. Those written by the "adoption triad" are generally highly emotionally charged. In The Psychology of Adoption, David Brodzinsky and Marshall Schechter have covered a broad range of adoption issues, but have approached them clinically. This is excellent source material for those who are interested in studies that investigate the problems and complications experienced by adoptive parents, adopted children, and birthparents. Brodzinsky and Schechter present and compare results of numerous clinical studies that are the foundation for their professional opinions on, and recommended approaches to improved emotional, psychological and mental health for families involved in adoption. Some of the documentation is difficult to wade through at times, but I was pleased to discover genuine compassion in their treatment of the subject. These men struck me as being caring professionals who are striving to improve a flawed adoption system that is not producing healthy, satisfied participants. They address the complex problems inherent in adoption, and offer options and solutions that, although perhaps not popular or commonly well-known or readily available, have been found to be healing and helpful to troubled families. Possibly more important, they advocate changes to the adoption system that might be preventive medicine for families who are statistically "destined" to have a less than successful adoption experience. I would recommend this book to those who appreciate an educated, clinical perspective that is refreshingly balanced with deeply felt and caring commentary on the adoption experience.