Anger Among Prospective Adoptive Parents: Structural Determinants and Management Strategies

This paper focuses on anger experienced by prospective adoptive parents as they go through infertility and the formal adoption process. Qualitative interviews were done with seventy-four infertile couples who were at various stages in their consideration of adoption. Using a sociology of emotions perspective, I examine the source of their anger by focusing on the structural power imbalance between infertile couples and the physicians and adoption agency personnel to whom they turn for help in becoming parents. I analyze the way that this power unbalance constrains their anger and examine the way it is managed according to the "feeling rules" that then come into play. The implications of this anger for practice are discussed. The anger experienced by prospective adoptive parents as they go through infertility and the formal adoption process will be examined along two axes. First, the structural power imbalance between infertile couples and those who they turn to for help in becoming parents will be considered. Typically, couples turn to, and become dependent on, physicians for help in becoming biological parents; when that doesn't work they turn to, and become dependent on, adoption agency personnel in an effort to become adoptive parents. In both instances, their dependence on others results in a sense of powerlessness and feelings of anger. Second, the way that this power imbalance constrains the expression of this anger will be analyzed, specifically, the way anger is managed in interactive situations by prospective adoptive couples according to the "feeling rules" that come into play (Kemper, 1981:346). The powerlessness that couples experience is compounded by the structural restrictions that inhibit the expression of anger