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PubMed1981

The diagnostic status of homosexuality in DSM-III: a reformulation of the issues.

In 1973 homosexuality per se was removed from the DSM-II classification of mental disorders and replaced by the category Sexual Orientation Disturbance. This represented a compromise between the view that preferential homosexuality is invariably a mental disorder and the view that it is merely a normal sexual variant. While the 1973 DSM-II controversy was highly public, more recently a related but less public controversy involved what became the DSM-III category of Ego-dystonic Homosexuality. The author presents the DSM-III controversy and a reformulation of the issues involved in the diagnostic status of homosexuality. He argues that what is at issue is a value judgment about heterosexuality, rather than a factual dispute about homosexuality.

Arousal↗
PubMed1994

Reanalysis of Bell, Weinberg, and Hammersmith's data on birth order, sibling sex ratio, and parental age in homosexual men.

The authors compared parental age, birth order, and sex ratio of siblings for 575 homosexual men and 284 heterosexual men, matched on age and education. They were originally part of Bell, Weinberg, and Hammersmith's large-scale study of male and female homosexuality. The results confirmed the previous findings that homosexual men have older fathers and later births than do heterosexual men but not the finding that homosexual men have larger proportions of brothers. The collective findings suggest that birth order is perhaps the single most reliable demographic difference between homosexual and heterosexual men.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

The psychotherapeutic treatment of male homosexuality.

This paper discusses aspects of the aetiology and treatment of male homosexuality, a topic that has become quite controversial in recent years. The paper is based on material from the author's patients, and also notes the contributions of others. In spite of many reports of successful treatment outcomes, some people continue to deny such results. This paper confirms that such patients can indeed be understood and treated successfully. A possible aetiological factor that has not been mentioned before in the literature is discussed, namely, the abortion of a pregnancy caused by the male patient that may have led to his "coming out" or declaring his homosexuality. Three main conclusions are reached. First, that some people who have had homosexual fantasies, behaviors, or identified themselves as homosexual, can become comfortably and fulfillingly heterosexual with psychotherapeutic treatment. Second, that human sexuality is not rigidly compartmentalized into either hetero- or homosexuality but varies on a continuous spectrum, and is affected in any individual by psychodynamic influences. Third, that before "coming out," young people, especially teenagers, should have the opportunity to explore their sexual identity with a psychodynamically oriented psychotherapist.

Adult↗
PubMed1989

Treatment of homosexual alcoholics in government-funded agencies: provider training and attitudes.

Alcoholism treatment providers in 36 government-funded agencies in New York City were surveyed for information about their training for and attitudes toward the treatment of homosexual patients. The 164 respondents had limited knowledge about how to evaluate and treat homosexual alcoholics and frequently did not discuss sexual orientation with their clients even though they considered it important. The training and supervision of most providers in the treatment of alcoholic homosexual clients was substandard or nonexistent. About half of the providers believed that treatment programs would benefit from having openly gay staff and felt that being openly gay carried little professional risk. Respondents also reported that development of programs for homosexual alcoholics had little priority in their facilities. Many believed that homosexual alcoholics are less likely to seek help and may have more difficulty achieving sobriety.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

The coming-out process for homosexuals.

Coming out is a core developmental process for homosexual persons that spans many years. It usually begins in childhood with feelings of being different and progresses through various stages, including acknowledgment of homosexuality, disclosure to others, acceptance of a homosexual identity, experimentation and exploration, and intimacy. Ideally, the process ends in consolidation, a stage in which homosexuals no longer view themselves primarily in terms of sexual orientation. The author describes the various stages of the coming-out process and discusses the clinical implications for therapy with homosexual patients.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2001

The overstimulation of everyday life: I. New aspects of male homosexuality.

Western heterosexual culture surrounds the homosexually inclined boy in a climate of erotic overstimulation that powerfully affects his development and adult sexual adaptation. This assertion is illustrated through a case presentation of a homosexual man who shared a bed with his brother from childhood into adolescence. Analysis of the patient's transference enactment--repeatedly falling asleep on the couch--gradually revealed the psychic impact of this everyday overstimulation: the creation of a tantalized inner world of longing. The regular occurrence and developmental understanding of adolescent homosexual boys' unrequited love affairs with adolescent heterosexual boys are described and explored. Finally, the overstimulation of everyday life is proposed as a new model for understanding certain behavioral aspects of male homosexuality, such as the avoidance of rough-and-tumble play in childhood and homosexual cruising.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1985

Adolescent homosexuality. Issues for pediatricians.

Homosexuality is among the most complex and controversial issues of adolescent health care. Although homosexual activity is common during adolescence, the prevalence and origins of homosexuality per se are poorly understood. Homosexual identity formation is a potentially tumultuous process that begins in childhood and extends through adulthood. The adolescent's experiences may ultimately contribute to a variety of physical and mental health problems. The sociological, psychological, and medical issues are considered, and guidelines for the care of homosexual youths are proposed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Homosexuality in monozygotic twins reared apart.

We describe six pairs of monozygotic twins, in which at least one member of five pairs were homosexual, and one of the remaining pair was bisexual, from a series of 55 pairs, reared apart from infancy; all the female pairs were discordant for homosexual behaviour. This and other evidence suggest that female homosexuality may be an acquired trait. One male pair was concordant for homosexuality, while the other was not clearly concordant or discordant; this suggests that male homosexuality may be associated with a complex interaction, in which genes play some part.

Adult↗
PubMed1977

Male homosexual psychodynamics and the Rorschach test.

A review of contradictory findings regarding Wheeler's Rorschach content signs of male homosexuality suggested that negative findings may have resulted from a focus on homosexual populations characterized by minimal arousal of underlying unconscious conflicts. It was hypothesized that activating these unconscious psychodynamics would enhance the discriminative power of the Wheeler signs. Inkblot protocols obtained in an earlier study from matched groups of homosexuals and heterosexuals under two experimental conditions -- involving subliminal exposure of either an incest-related or a neutral control stimulus -- were scored for Wheeler signs. The incest condition brought about a significantly greater incidence of the signs in homosexual records only, suggesting that the intensification of unconscious incest wishes stimulates homosexual reactions, consonant with psychoanalytic formulations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

The neuroendocrine response of luteinizing hormone to estrogen administration in heterosexual, homosexual, and transsexual subjects.

The neuroendocrine response of LH to estrogen administration may be related to sexual dimorphism of the brain, and therefore, homosexual and especially transsexual individuals may differ from heterosexual individuals in their responses. This study failed to find such differences among groups of female heterosexuals, homosexuals, and transsexuals. Specifically, after single dose estrogen administration, all subjects had an initial decline in serum LH levels, followed by a brisk rise of equal magnitude. Among males, the type of response was less uniform. After an initial fall in serum LH levels, the individual responses varied. In 12 of 23 male homosexuals, 10 of 15 male heterosexuals, and all 6 genetic male transsexuals studied, serum LH levels remained below pretreatment levels. In the remaining 11 male homosexuals and 5 of the heterosexuals, serum LH levels increased to values exceeding those before treatment, resembling the response found in the 3 groups of women. Those homosexual and heterosexual men with a rise in serum LH levels to above pretreatment values also had the greatest fall in testosterone levels after estrogen administration, while these same men had the lowest testosterone response to hCG stimulation. I conclude from these results that 1) the similarity of LH responses to estrogen administration in all groups of women studied does not support a theory of brain androgenization as a factor in the establishment of gender identity of sexual orientation; and 2) individual differences in men in the type of LH response to estrogen administration can be satisfactorily explained by endocrine factors, such as Leydig cell function, and need not be related to gender identity, sexual orientation, or other possible causes.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Characteristics of homosexually-active men with gonorrhoea during an epidemic in Sydney, Australia.

Our objective was to investigate an epidemic of gonorrhoea among homosexually-active men in Sydney. Demographic and behavioural data on all homosexually-active men diagnosed with gonorrhoea (any site) at the Sydney Sexual Health Centre (SSHC) from 1992 through 1998 were reviewed. The men diagnosed with anal gonorrhoea were then compared with all homosexually-active men who tested negative for anal gonorrhoea or who were not tested for anal gonorrhoea at the SSHC between 1996 and 1998. Data on HIV status and country of birth of men diagnosed with anal gonorrhoea during 1998 at the Taylor Square Private Clinic were also reviewed. Over the period 1992 to 1998, homosexually-active men diagnosed with gonorrhoea at SSHC tended to become older at the time of diagnosis (median age 26.5 years in 1992 up to 31.0 years in 1998), indicating a cohort effect in the clinic population due to service reductions. When compared with men who tested negative for anal gonorrhoea at SSHC between 1996 and 1998, those with anal gonorrhoea were more likely to have anogenital symptoms (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.3), to have had a past history of gonorrhoea (OR 3.1), to present as a contact of gonorrhoea (OR 8.6), to have used condoms less consistently (OR 2.3), to be HIV positive or of unknown HIV status (OR 3.2), and to have been born in an English-speaking country other than Australia (OR 2.9). The last feature was not observed at the private clinic. In conclusion, the gonorrhoea epidemic was linked to public health service reductions, though it seems unlikely to be the only factor. Homosexually-active men with anal gonorrhoea had well established behavioural risk factors while men with concurrent HIV infection were over-represented. Given the role of gonorrhoea in promoting the spread of HIV infection, a National Sexual Health Strategy--closely linked to the National HIV/AIDS Strategy--is due.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Heterosexual behaviour, risk factors and sexually transmitted infections among self-classified homosexual and bisexual men.

Our study of men presenting at a genitourinary medicine clinic shows that self-classification into homosexual or bisexual does not accurately define behaviour. We found that 8.5% of self-defined homosexual men had had heterosexual intercourse in the past year and that 26% of self-defined bisexual men had not. Overall, 19% of homosexual/bisexual men reported vaginal intercourse in the past year and a further 42% in their lifetime. Compared with heterosexual men attending our clinic, the practising bisexual men were significantly more likely to come from a white ethnic group (P < 0.003) and to use condoms invariably with regular female partners (P = 0.0001). There was no significant difference in consent for HIV testing between homosexual (43%), practising bisexual (49%) and heterosexual (42%) men despite significantly different perceptions of risk. None of the practising bisexual men was seropositive for HIV infection (P = 0.06) or for syphilis (P = 0.02), or had chlamydial infection, which was found infrequently among homosexual men in general (P = 0.00001). HIV infection found in 19.4% of the exclusively homosexual men was associated with more frequent alcohol consumption (P=0.06).

Adult↗
PubMed1976

Homosexuality in the Rorschach: a new look at the old signs.

Content responses to the Rorschach inkblot test have been used by clinicians to assess homosexuality. In comparing educated, adjusted male homosexuals to educated, adjusted heterosexuals, no differences were found between the groups when the traditional index of homosexuality on the Rorschach was used. The index was unable to distinguish the groups on a number of criteria. The reliability of the index was found to be significantly greater for the homosexual group than for the heterosexual group. It was suggested that the traditional index is not valid and that it should not be used in a clinical setting as a measure to assess homosexuality.

Adult↗
PubMed1976

The role of cognitive and situational variables in aggression toward homosexuals.

The relationship of several antecedents of aggression toward homosexuals was investigated. Attitudes toward homosexuality, perceived similarity to the target homosexual, and type of prior contact with the target homosexual were found to interact in influencing such aggressiveness. The implication of these findings to the "personal threat" and "scapegoating" hypotheses of aggression toward homosexuals is discussed.

Aggression↗
PubMed1977

Acceptance of the rights of homosexuals: a social profile.

The relationships between attitudes toward homosexuality and sociodemographic and attitudinal variables were explored, using the data from a nationwide opinion survey in the United States. Individuals who were willing to grant such rights to homosexuals as teaching in college, speaking in a local community, and removing a book from a local library written by a homosexual and favorable to homosexuality, tended to be well educated, young, Jewish or nonreligious, from urban areas, raised in the Northeast or Pacific states, and willing to provide freedom of expression to people with nonconformist political ideas. "Erotophobia," which was not related closely to the rights issue, was associated with moral judgments about homosexual acts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

On "doing" and "being" gay: sexual behavior and homosexual male self-identity.

The possible relationships between sexual behavior and homosexual male self-identity are examined within a symbolic interactionist frame-work. The presence or absence of definitions of homosexuality, the nature of these definitions, and the rules learned by the individual for their application to himself and others determined how he perceived his feelings, his behavior, and his sexual identity. The identity histories of the men illustrate how the peer groups in which they were socialized and the behavior of their friends prevented them from defining their behavior in terms of the "homosexual pattern." They began to reinterpret their behavior as "homosexual" when they perceived changes in the behavior and definitions of their behavior by their friends, or when they came into contact with self-defined homosexuals.

Homosexuality↗
PubMed1979

A cross-cultural perspective on theory and research on male homosexuality.

In an effort to uncover useful directions for future research, this paper examines the cross-cultural data on male homosexuality in light of various theories that might account for its variation. Looking first at different psychological explanations, the study suggests that the sex of one's childhood companions may be an important factor in the origin of homosexuality. Two possible explanations for an association between male homosexuality and mixed-sex playgroups are offered: In one, gender identity serves as an intervening variable; in the other, the notion that "familiarity breeds contempt" is studied. A cultural materialist theory, which views homosexuality as adaptive under conditions of population pressure, is shown to be supported by the correlation between a society's natalist policy and its attitudes toward homosexuality.

Attitude↗
PubMed1980

Slavery and the social dynamics of male homosexual relations in ancient Rome.

More than any other institution, slavery placed its stamp on male homosexual relations in ancient Rome. While the pervasive Hellenization of Roman society in the second and first centuries B.C. mitigated the traditional hostility towards homosexuality and homosexual relations and even, in cultured circles, fostered an idealizing acceptance of male pederastic relations patterned after the model of classical Greece, this transformation of attitudes would have produced less concrete effects had Rome not concurrently become a slave-owning society on a large scale, due to overseas conquests. The strictures of Roman law and tradition applied only to sexual relations among free men and women; sexual relations between freemen and female or male slaves were unlikely to incur much social stigma. Although there is evidence that some Romans did indeed exploit their slaves, fortunately the great lacuna within the law and tradition, together with the emergence of more humane values regarding slavery and sexual relations, allowed genuine love-relationships (both heterosexual and homosexual) to receive a large measure of social sanction as a form of concubinage. Roman culture, however, unlike classical Green civilization, made little contribution to an informed acceptance of homosexual relations grounded in an understanding of human ethics and psychology.

Cultural Characteristics↗