Psychological effects of the new reproductive technologies

Four psychological principles help us to understand the psychological effects of the new technologies: (1) Special circumstances of parenting and birth will stimulate fantasies in parents and children, which in turn influence the child's personality and identity; (2) Human parenting does not require a biological connection; nonbiological parents can be equally effective nurturers; (3) Good parenting involves a psychological interaction beginning at birth, so that early and permanent opportunity for attachment is important for normal development; (4) New technologies relieve the psychological pain of infertility and provide benefit by giving some individuals the opportunity to be parents. The psychology of surrogate mothers is also discussed.