“Adoption—genealogical bewilderment”

Judith Land, Villa Sant’ Andrea, Tuscany, Italy, addressing the topic of genealogical bewilderment and mothers who intentionally lock themselves behind stone walls and iron gates to maintain secrecy and conceal their true identify from their own biological child, “Motherhood is an act of creation and an enduring verity that is everlasting. Our mothers launch us into this world and they are our true spiritual and biological link on this earth for all eternity. The genetic blueprint we inherit from them mimics the physiological and psychological characteristics shared by our matriarchal ancestors for survival over the millennia. Our relationship is much more unique and complex than simply biological—the essence of the ethereal life force that sustains and connects us as mother and child is esoteric, intuitive, spiritual and eternally much greater than the sum of its parts—to fully develop our concept of self we must know something about our heritage before we can truly know ourselves.”

“Genealogical bewilderment evokes a nefarious air of uncertainty and befuddles a child’s ability to establish their true self-identity.” —Judith Land

Genealogical bewilderment refers to potential identity problems that could be experienced by a child who was either fostered or adopted. Psychologist H. J. Sants, referring to the plight of children who have uncertain, little, or no knowledge of one or both of their natural parents, coined the term in 1964. He argued that genealogical bewilderment constituted a large part of the additional stress that adoptees experienced that is not experienced by children raised by their natural parents.

Sants wrote in the journal Mental Health: Knowledge of and definite relationship to his genealogy is … necessary for a child to build up his complete body image, concept of self, and world picture. It is an inalienable and entitled right of every person. There is an urge, a call, in everybody to follow and fulfill the tradition of his family, race, nation, and the religious community into which he was born. The loss of this tradition is a deprivation, which may result in the stunting of emotional development. Sorosky, Pannor, and Baran drew upon the work of Sants in a number of publications during the 1970s, including a book entitled The Adoption Triangle, thus exposing the concept of genealogical bewilderment to a larger audience.

When birth parents intentionally wall themselves behind iron gates and stone walls (legally and metaphorically) to keep their identity secret from their own child, they make it impossible for the abandoned child to learn anything about their true identity, social and cultural heritage, meet family members or receive an inheritance.

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采纳搜索|收养团聚|通过故事|家谱困惑 | “Smarrimento Genealogical evoca un aereo nefasto di incertezza e stordisce la capacità del bambino di stabilire la loro vera auto-identità.”