THE CONSTRUCTION OF EMOTIONAL BONDS BETWEEN ADOPTIVE PARENTS AND CHILDREN IN THE LATE ADOPTION PROCESS

Abstract

This study addresses late adoption, which aims to ensure the right to family life for children older than two years and adolescents. Its objective is to understand the formation of emotional bonds between parents and children during the late adoption process, considering the challenges involved in welcoming young individuals with a history of abandonment. An exploratory bibliographic review was conducted using descriptors such as “Late Adoption,” “Children’s Profile,” and “Emotional Bonds.” This paper discusses the legal aspects related to adoption in the Brazilian context, with a focus on the Child and Adolescent Statute. This study highlights the discrepancy between the profile desired by most adoptive parents—female, white, newborn, and healthy children—and the reality found in foster care institutions. In addition, it examines the motivations that drive prospective adoptive parents and demonstrates how myths, fears, and prejudices discourage late adoption.