Is Changing Sexual Orientation a Viable Option for Ego-Dystonic
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 275 919 CG 019 451 AUTHOR Keener, Dana Ray TITLE Is Changing Sexual Orientation a Viable Option for Ego-Dystonic Homosexuality? PUB DATE Aug 86 MOTE 69p.; Doctor of Psychology Research Paper, Biola University, California. PUB TYPE Information Analyses (070) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC03 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Attitude Change; Behavior Change; *Behavior Modification; *Group Therapy; *Homosexuality; Life Style; *Psychotherapy; *Self Help Programs; *Sexual Identity ABSTRACT This paper addresses the issue of homosexuals who want to change their sexual orientation. It is noted that many ego-dystonic homosexuals who want to become heterosexual, despite e ncouragement from psychotherapists to accept their homosexuality, are turning to self-help groups in an effort to change their sexual orientation. Studies that have attempted to change sexual orientation are reviewed in this paper. Problems with defining and measuring change in sexual orientation are considered and the importance of therapies for changing sexual orientation is discussed. Studies involving psychoanalytic therapies are reviewed. Several studieson behavior therapies are examined, including studies of aversion therapy, classical conditioning, and systematic desensitization. Studies dealing with group therapy are discussed under the headings of heterogeneous groups, homogeneous groups, and self-helpgroups. Problems associated with each type of therapy are noted. Thepaper concludes that studies in which changes in sexual orientationseem most complete involve a change in lifestyle whereby the person takes on a new social and sexual identity. It is asserted that psychotherapists can offer better help to homosexuals desiring to change their sexual orientation as aspects of sexual identity and lifestyle are more fully addressed. (Author/NB) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** IS CHANGING SEXUAL ORIENTATION A VIABLEOPTION FOR EGODYSTONIC HOMOSEXUALITY? Doctoral Research Paper for the Degree of Doctor of Psychology ROSEMEAD SCHOOL OF PSYCHOLOGY BIOLA UNIVERSITY DANA RAY KEENER 1986 U.S. DEPARTMENT OP EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS EDU ATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION MATERIAL11AS CENTER (ERIC) EN 95ANTED BY This document hes been reproduced as received from the person or organization 1)&12.0 originating it. 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this docir merit do not neeesaarily represent official OERI position or policy. TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC)." 2 IS CHANGING SEXUAL ORIENTATION A VIABLEOPTION FOR EGODYSTONIC HOMOSEXUALITY? BY DANA RAY KEENER A doctoral researchpaper submitted to Rosemead School of Psychology in partial fulfillment of therequirements for the degree of Doctor of Psychology La Mirada, California 1986 3 IS CHANGING SEXUAL ORIENTATION A VIABLEOPTION FOR EGO-DYSTONIC HOMOSEXUALITY? BY DANA RAY KEENER APPROVED: Date T7r/re. First Reader Da t e, af/laVA4 Se ond eader APPROVED: Date ii 4 Table of Contents Page Abstract . Introduction 1 Methodological Problems 7 Definition of Homosexuality . 7 Definition of Change of Sexual Orientation . 9 Sexual Identity . 10 Importance of Therapies for Changing Sexual Orientation . 11 Psychoanalytic therapy . 13 Problems with Psychoanalytic Therapy . 19 Summary of Psychoanalytic Therapy . 19 Behavior Therapies 90 Aversion Therapy 21 Classical Conditioning . 25 Systematic Desensitization and Orgasmic Reconditioning . 28 Problems With Behavior Therapies . 30 Summary of Behavior Therapies 31 Group Therapy 32 Heterogeneous Groups 33 Homogeneous Groups . 38 SelfHelp Groups 41 Problems With Group Therapy Research . 43 Summary of Group Therapy . 44 Present Direction of Treatment forHomosexuality . 44 iii 5 Table of Contents --cont. Summary . 48 History of Therapy for Homosexuality . 48 Current State of Therapy for Homosexuality . 49 Problems With the Research . 59 Definition and Measurement . 50 Lack of Research With Lesbians . 51 Can Therapy Change Sexual Orientation? . 51 Psychoanalytic Therapy . 52 Behavior Therapies . 53 Group Therapy . 54 Conclusion . 55 References . 57 6 iv Abstract This paper reviews studies thatattempt to change sexual orientation. Although there are many problems withdefining and measuring change in sexual orientation,the literature indicates that many homosexualpersons desiring to change their sexual orientationcan do so with treatment. Ego- dystonic homosexual persons continueto seek help in becoming heterosexual despite increasedencouragement from psychotherapists for them to accept theirhomosexuality. Many homosexuals desiring to change theirsexual orientation are turning to self-help groups. This paper asserts that psychotherapists can offer better helpto homosexuals desiring to change as aspects of sexualidentity and lifestyle are more fully addressed. 7 v Is Changing Sexual Orientationa Viable Option for Ego-Dystonic Homosexuality? Therapy for homosexuals who want reorientation isa controversial topic, particularly since insome areas of the country, the gay population is finallybeing allowed to live without high levels of public predjudice. However to ignore the goals of clients who want to change their preference isboth paradoxical and prejudiced (Schwartz & Masters, 1984,p. 180). According to Schwartz and Masters, theparadox is that homosexual persons are given themessage that they have to live with their homosexuality while theclinical evidence indicates that sexual orientation is changeable. Over the past decade the prominent publicview has been that homosexual persons cannot change theirsexual orientation to any significant degree. This view has been perpetuated by.the gay liberation.movement. The media has focused on stories about the problemshomosexual persons face in "coming out of the closet" (Church, 1979; Kantrowitz, Greenberg, McKillop, Starr& Burgower, 1986; Leo, Hopkins, McIntosh, & Brine, 1975;Reese & Abramson, 1986; Roderick, 1984a, 1984b). Little,if anything, has been written on the struggles of those homosexualpersons wanting to change their sexual orientation. In previewing Masters and Johnsons' book, Homosexuality in Persective, Galvin (1979) expressed supriseat their finding that over 60% of those homosexuals wanting to change their sexualorientation did so in the Masters and Johnsonprogram. It is difficult to determine howmany homosexual 8 2 persons are interested in changingto heterosexuality. Even estimates of the size of thehomosexual population in the United States vary from 3%to 10% of he total population. This would include roughly 6to 20 million people (Crooks & Baur, 1980; Leo et al., 1975).It is uncertain howmany of these people wish to changeto heterosexuality. The number of persons requesting therapyfor such change is rather small. Masters and Johnson report only 67homosexuals requesting to enter theirprogram to change sexual orientation between 1968 and 1977(Galvin, 1979). Many of the studies on sexual orientationchange are case studiesor use a small number of subjects. However, if we look at self-helpgroups for persons wanting to become heterosexual,we get a different picture. Pattison and Durrance (1985)reported that these self-help groups, such as Homosexuals Anonymousand various "Ex-Gae programs, exist in at least 30 U.S. citiesas well as England, France, Africa, Brazil,Australia, and elsewhere. Pattison and Pattison (1980) studiedone of these self-help groups that was sponsored bya pentecostal church. Over a five-year period, 300persons entered this program seeking to become heterosexual. Ina newsletter printed by Desert Stream, another self-helpgroup sponsored by the Vineyard Christian Fellowship which islocated in the Los Angeles area, Davis (1985) claimed that theywere providing weekly counseling for approximately 45people leaving the homosexual lifestlye. Because of the increasing number of 9 3 people seeking help, Desert Stream isin constant need of more staff. They desire more help from peoplewho are professionally trained. From the above information itseems that persons desiring to change their sexualorientation are turning toward those resources thatare offering the most hope and help. As it has become popular in psychologicalcircles to downplay or reject a person'sdesire to change sexual orientation it is no wonder that thesepeople have turned elsewhere. If people do not believe thatpsychotherapy will help them they will notturn to psychotherapists for help. In recent years much of theattention of psychology has been directed away from lookingfor more effective therapies for helping homosexualpersons to change their sexual orientation. Instead, the focus has beenon the controversy of whether homosexualpersons should attempt to change their sexual orientation and,more importantly, whether psychotherapists should help themin such attempts. On one side is the view that homosexualityis a pathological sexual orientation in need ofchange. The other side is the view that homosexuality isa variation of normal sexual expression. This second view concludes that theonly problems of homosexualityare those caused by the attitudes of society and that it issociety that needs to do the changing. Prior to 1960 homosexualitywas largely viewed as a pathological syndrome associatedwith neurotic patterns. 1 0 4 Much