This article raises some thoughts concerning the subjectivity present in the adoption psychosocial studies carried out by the professionals from the Adoption Service of the Childhood and Adolescence Court. The results were obtained through a study which aimed at finding which criteria were adopted by the team of professionals of that Service to elaborate their technical reports. Keeping children or (and) adolescents who cannot stay with their origin families in foster families is an exceptional action that is officially taken through adoption or custody. Its main objective is to guarantee, for these children and adolescents, the right of family and community acquaitance and cohabitation. The research was carried out based on a qualitative approach, and the participants were: nine professionals of the Adoption Service (psychologists and social assistants) who carry out psychossocial studies for adoption, evaluation, selection and preparation of the adopting candidates. An interview with a focal group was used. The resulting information reveals the recognition of subjective aspects that take part in the psychosocial evaluation. It also shows that the suffering present in the process of evaluation and adoption is often shared by the professionals. Another aspect present in the results concerns the professionals'reflections about their own family experiences and their socio-cultural class. The conclusions indicated that the psychossocial study process raises embarassment, fear and anxiety in the adopting families, as well as in the psychologists and social assistants who carry out the case studies. The professionals also perceive that the subjectivity present in the study process may allow power abuse. In addition this article presents some strategies that will enable professionals to deal with the subjectivity present in adoption matters.
Psychosocial studies; adoption; subjectivity; forensic psychology