Michael Humphrey – författare

In the 1980s families other than those made up of the natural mother, father, and siblings were increasing in number. Originally published in 1988, this book looks at these ‘alternative’ families and considers the psychological and social consequences of growing up in a family where the genetic link between parents and children is missing or incomplete. The authors discuss adoption, fostering, stepfamilies, and parenthood by donor insemination, as well as such areas as ‘womb-leasing’ and homosexual parenthood, considered controversial at the time. A recurring theme is whether, when, and what to tell children of their extrafamilial origins, and how they and other family members react to the knowledge.

Families with a Difference is a comprehensive new analysis of the changing nature of family life in western society which, in the aftermath of the influential Warnock Report in 1984, would have been important reading for students and professionals in social policy, social work, psychology, and the social aspects of medicine.

In the 1980s families other than those made up of the natural mother, father, and siblings were increasing in number. Originally published in 1988, this book looks at these ‘alternative’ families and considers the psychological and social consequences of growing up in a family where the genetic link between parents and children is missing or incomplete. The authors discuss adoption, fostering, stepfamilies, and parenthood by donor insemination, as well as such areas as ‘womb-leasing’ and homosexual parenthood, considered controversial at the time. A recurring theme is whether, when, and what to tell children of their extrafamilial origins, and how they and other family members react to the knowledge.

Families with a Difference is a comprehensive new analysis of the changing nature of family life in western society which, in the aftermath of the influential Warnock Report in 1984, would have been important reading for students and professionals in social policy, social work, psychology, and the social aspects of medicine.

The Politics of Atrocity and Reconciliation examines contemporary political violence and atrocity in the context of the crisis of the nation-state. It explores the way violence is used to unmake the social world and how its product: suffering, is used to try to remake the social world. Humphrey considers both the unmaking of the world through torture, war, urbicide and ethnic cleansing and the resultant remaking of the world through testimony and witnessing in the forums of truth commissions and trials. The discussion thus moves from terror to trauma.

The Politics of Atrocity and Reconciliation examines contemporary political violence and atrocity in the context of the crisis of the nation-state. It explores the way violence is used to unmake the social world and how its product: suffering, is used to try to remake the social world. Humphrey considers both the unmaking of the world through torture, war, urbicide and ethnic cleansing and the resultant remaking of the world through testimony and witnessing in the forums of truth commissions and trials. The discussion thus moves from terror to trauma.

There can be no doubt that intercountry adoption has grown in popularity over the past decade and many childless couples are now considering it as one option in the struggle to achieve a family. By presenting eight first-hand accounts from couples who have adopted from abroad,Inter-Country Adoption offers fascinating insight to the emotional, financial and legal difficulties that prospective adoptive parents must face.

There can be no doubt that intercountry adoption has grown in popularity over the past decade and many childless couples are now considering it as one option in the struggle to achieve a family. By presenting eight first-hand accounts from couples who have adopted from abroad,Inter-Country Adoption offers fascinating insight to the emotional, financial and legal difficulties that prospective adoptive parents must face.