A study of adoption: the social circumstances an d adjustment in adult life of 58 adopted children

Abstract

In the introduction it was shown how the protection of current adoption law lies first, in the regulation of place - :ments made by adoption societies and local authorities; secondly, in the supervision by the local authority of third party placements after the child has been placed in an adoptive home, and finally and ultimately in the investigation of the curator and guardian ad litem. This study would suggest that much more should be enquired into than is specified in the regulations(1) and in the duties(2) of the curator and guardian ad litem.

Much, however, remains unknown in this field of child adoption, and further exploratory studies are needed. This present study considered adoption from the view -point of the adopted person. Detailed studies too are needed of a re- :presentative group of adopting parents and also of all those who apply to adoption societies and other organisations to be considered as prospective adopters. Studies are equally needed of the histories of those who offer their children for adoption.

It is only in this way that we can hope to acquire objective knowledge to replace vague generalisations and surmise. Then we may be able to follow Bacon's dictum, ... It cannot be that axioms discovered by argumentations should avail for the discovery of new works ... we must lead men to the particulars themselves, while men on their side must force themselves for a while to lay their notions by and begin to familiarise themselves with the facts ".