The FES scale was administered to analyze the atmosphere in 155 families who had applied to adopt a child. The data indicate a family atmosphere style of psychological comfort. The variables that stood out were the presence of high level of cohesion and expressiveness and a low level of conflict, with a high evaluation of cultural and recreational interests as a means of personal development, and a low degree of personal autonomy. Systems of maintaining stability in the family place a higher value on organization than on control. These data are discussed from the perspective of the quality measurement of the FES and the psychological mechanisms tha may be responsible for these results.