Genealogical Bewilderment

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The content is sourced from: https://handwiki.org/wiki/Philosophy:Genealogical_bewilderment

Genealogical bewilderment is a term referring to potential identity problems that could be experienced by a child who was either fostered, adopted, or conceived via an assisted reproductive technology procedure such as surrogacy or gamete donation (egg or sperm donation). The concept was first introduced in a 1952 letter to the Journal of Mental Health by psychiatrist E. Wellisch. The term “genealogical bewilderment” was coined in 1964 by psychologist H. J. Sants, a colleague of Wellisch, referring to the plight of children who have uncertain, little, or no knowledge of one or both of their natural parents. Sants argued that genealogical bewilderment constituted a large part of the additional stress that adoptees experienced that is not experienced by children being raised by their natural parents. In the 1970s, researchers Sorosky, Pannor and Baran drew upon the work of Sants to explore the concept in a number of publications, including a book titled The Adoption Triangle, thus bringing "genealogical bewilderment" to a larger audience.

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References

Leighton, K. (2012). “Addressing the harms of not knowing one's heredity: lessons from genealogical bewilderment”. “Adoption & Culture, (3) 63-102.
Wellisch, 1952, as quoted by O'Shaughnessy, p. 119
Verrier, N. (1993). The primal wound: Understanding the adopted child. Baltimore: Gateway Press.
Groza, V., & Rosenberg, K. (2001). “Clinical and practice issues in adoption: bridging the gap between adoptees placed as infants and as older children” Westport, Conn.: Bergin & Garvey.
Sorosky, A. D., Baran, A. & Pannor, R. (1975). “Identity conflicts in adoptees”. “American Journal of Orthopsychiatry,”(45): 18–27.
Brodzinsky, D.M. & Schechter M.D. (1990). “The psychology of adoption”. Oxford University Press. 62–90.
“Adoption and loss: The hidden grief.”
Telfer, J. (2000). “Why (not) looking like anybody else makes a difference: Putting the pieces together.”
Groza
Stein, L.M., Hoopes, J.L. (1985) "Identity formation in the adopted adolescent." Child Welfare League of America, New York.
Brodzinsky, D. M. (1987). “Adjustment to adoption: A psychosocial perspective.”Clinical Psychology Review, (7) 25– 47.
Smith, S. L., Howard, J.A., & Monroe, A.D. (2000). "Issues underlying behavior problems in at-risk adopted children." Children and Youth Services Review 22, (7) 539-62.
Jones, A. (1997). "Issues relevant to therapy with adoptees". Psychotherapy, 34(1). 64-68.
Levy-Shiff, R. (2001). "Psychological adjustment of adoptees in adulthood: Family environment and adoption-related correlates". International Journal of Behavioral Development, 25(2) 97-104.
Humphrey, M., & Humphrey, H. (1986). "A fresh look at genealogical bewilderment". British Journal of Medical Psychology, 59(2), 133-140.
Storm, J.E. (1988). British Journal of Medical Psychology. LIX, 1986. Psychoanalytic Quarterly, 57, 288-288. Information retrieved from PEP Web http://www.pep-web.org/document.php?id=paq.057.0288a
Affleck, M. & Steed, L. (2001). "Expectations and Experiences of Participants in Ongoing Adoption Reunion Relationships: A Qualitative Study". American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 71(1), 38-48

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