The Psychology of Adoption / Edition 1

by David M. Brodzinsky, Marshall D. Schechter

Overview

Recent empirical work has shown that adopted children are more vulnerable to a host of psychological and school-related problems compared to their non-adopted peers. The rate of referral of adopted children to mental-health facilities is far above what would be expected given their representation in the general population. However, our understanding of the basis of these problems remains unclear. In this work, David Brodzinsky, who has conducted one of the largest studies of adopted children, along with Marshall Schechter, a child psychiatrist, has brought together a group of leading researchers from various disciplines to explore the complex, interdisciplinary subject of adoption. Theoretical, empirical, clinical, and social policy issues offer new insights into the problems facing parents of adopted children and especially the children themselves. The book is a comprehensive study and will be of interest to child psychiatrists, developmental and clinical psychologists, social workers, and social service providers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195082739
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	10/28/1993
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	416
Product dimensions:	8.92(w) x 6.20(h) x 1.08(d)

About the Author

David M. Brodzinsky is Associate Professor, Developmental and Clinical Psychology, Rutgers University. Marshall D. Schechter is Professor Emeritus, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.

Table of Contents

PART I: Theoretical Perspectives on Adoption Adjustment1. A Stress and Coping Model of Adoption Adjustment, David M. Brodzinsky2. Biologic Perspectives of Adoptee Adjustment, Remi J. Cadoret3. Adoption from the Inside Out: a Psychoanalytic Perspective, Paul M. Brinich4. The Meaning of the Search, Marshall E. Schechter and Doris BertocciPART II: Research on Adoption5. Outcomes in Adoption: Lessons from Longitudinal Studies, Michael Bohman and Soren Sigvardsson6. Contrasting Adoption, Foster Care and Residential Rearing, John Triseliotis and Malcolm Hill7. Acknowledgement or Rejection of Differences? Kenneth Kaye8. Adoption and Identity Formation, Janet L. Hoopes9. Adopted Adolescents in Residential Treatment: the Role of the Family, Harold D. Grotevant and Ruth G. McRoy10. Adjustment in Interracial Adoptees: an Overview, Arnold R. Silverman and William Fiegelman11. Adoption Disruption: Rates and Correlates, Trudy FestingerPART III. Clinical Issues in Adoption12. Family Treatment after Adoption: Common Themes, Ann Hartman and Joan Laird13. Solution-Focused Therapy with Adoptive Families, Judith Schaffer and Christina Lindstrom14 The Residential Treatment of Severely Disturbed Adolescent Adoptees, Wells Goodrich et al.PART IV: Social Policy and Casework Issues in Adoption15. History, Values, and Placement Policy Issues in Adoption, Elizabeth S. Cole and Kathryn S. Donley16. Surrendering an Infant for Adoption: the Birthmother Experience, Anne B. Brodzinsky17. Open Adoption, Anne Baran and Reuben Pannor18. Foster Parent Adoption: The Legal Framework, Andre P. Derdeyn

Editorial Reviews

"The long-awaited book edited by well-known adoption authorities . . . . It is sure to become a standard text at schools of social work, and ought to be required reading for psychologists and health care professionals." —Adopted Child

"Chapters by 30 authors cover theoretical perspectives, recent research, clinical issues, and changing social policy related to the legal and psychological rights of adoptees to "openness." The initial chapter, by Brodzinsky, provides an excellent description of a coping model that enables young adoptees to offset the greater psychological vulnerability inherent in adoption. . . .The book is likely to be seen as an important one and should be valuable to the various professional disciplines working in the field of adoption." —Readings: A Journal of Reviews and Commentary in Mental Health

"In this book, theoretical, empirical, clinical and social policy issues offer new insights into the problems facing parents of adopted children, and especially the children themselves." —Adolescence

"Brodzinsky and Schechter have delivered a valuable collection of chapters dealing with a wide range of theoretical, empirical, and practical issues related to adoption. . . .Brodzinsky and Schechter are to be commended for helping to bring adoption out of the realm of opinion by securing its footing on a strong research base." —Contemporary Psychology

"An outstanding collection of articles on many aspects of adoption. . . .An extremely valuable 32-page list of references is included. . . .This book fills a previously unmet need in the field." —Arkansas Department of Human Services Newsletter

"A well edited, readable, interesting, and sometimes provocative volume. It appeared to touch on most. . .important themes and dilemmas of adoption. . . .Chapters in the clinical section provide ideas and techniques that are usable in the therapy room." —Child, Youth & Family Services Quarterly

"The Psychology of Adoption is a book designed to make a real contribution to the resources of adoption professionals that, for the most part, achieves its objective. The balance of the articles are well considered, strongly connected to the topics identified by the editors, and written on a consistent level." —Social Science Review

"Professionals from any of the disciplines touched by adoption . . . will find this resource very useful as a ready analysis of the available adoption research. Each chapter is a free-standing research review on the topic identified as a chapter theme." —OURS magazine

From the Publisher