The reunion of adoptees and birth relatives

An increasing number of adult adoptees are insisting that they have a constitutionally based civil right to have access to their sealed birth records which would reveal the true identity of their natural parents. This study investigated the outcome of 11 cases of reunion between adoptees and birth mothers. The majority felt that they had personally benefitted from the reunion even though in some of the cases the adoptees were disillusioned and disappointed in their birth relatives. There are many reasons why an adoptee feels a need to search for more information on his birth parents or to seek out a reunion; in many cases, the true purpose remains unconscious. It would appear that very few adoptees are provided with enough background information to be incorporated into their developing ego and sense of identity. Feelings of genealogical bewilderment cannot be discounted as occurring only in maladjusted or emotionally disturbed individuals.Received M.D. from the University of Miami (Florida) and psychiatry training at UCLA. Private practice of adult and child psychiatry in Encino, California. Interests lie in identity problems of young adults, adoption, and the training of psychology paraprofessionals.Received M.S.W. from the University of Southern California. Prior experience in adoption, working with children, birth parents, and adoptive parents, and in supervision. Interests lie in specific problems related to adoption, working with adolescents, and legislative aspects of child welfare.Received M.S.W. from Columbia University, New York. Interests lie in work with unwed fathers, adoptions, problems related to illegitimacy, and residential treatment.