When doing genealogical research, one runs the risk of learning facts about family history that may be both surprising (or even shocking) and disturbing.
What if DNA test results show that someone you thought was a direct ancestor could not be … because someone in your family’s past was adopted, or their parentage differed for other reasons from what family members thought to be true? It could happen.
What if your research reveals that your ancestors included enslaved people … or the owners of enslaved people?
Students enrolling in MSE 2212 will need to appreciate that unexpected and potentially disturbing findings might emerge. For this reason, we offer here links to some resources that may help Villanova students cope with discoveries that could affect the student’s emotional and psychological stability.
- University Counseling Center: this is the place to start if you need help coping with anything that arises in the course
- Example of an article describing mental health pitfalls associated with DNA testing (Philadelphia Inquirer, 31 Oct 2021)