Reparative therapy
Reparative therapy, or conversion therapy is any of several voluntary techniques that are aimed at changing a person's sexual orientation from homosexuality to heterosexuality.
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2 History 3 Proponents 4 Opponents 5 Techniques 6 External Links |
In general a person's position on reparative therapy will be based on their position on whether homosexuality is genetically or environmentally caused.
Opponents of reparative therapy maintain that homosexuality is a fixed sexual orientation, and (partly on this basis) they argue that it should not be repathologized as a mental disorder.
Supporters of reparative therapy believe that homosexuality is not a fixed sexual orientation but an emotional disorder which a person can change.
There are anecdotal reports of successful conversions, total reversions, and partially successful conversions, in which the subjects still have some homosexual feelings/attractions.
But to this date, there are no outcome studies with sufficient scientific rigor to determine conclusively either the actual efficacy or harm of reparative treatments.
Likewise, there exists no scientific consensus on sexual orientation as being fixed by genetic factors or otherwise unchangeable in adults.
Generally, reparative therapy can be divided into two categories: secular and religious. Secular reparative therapy tends to seeks to distance itself from religion.
Modern reparative therapy is a re-reading of this research and stems from the clinical work and theories of Elizabeth Moberly, a British Christian theologian. In her book, '', she states that homosexuality is purely a result of environmental factors, primarily a failure to bond with the subject's father as opposed to the domineering mother theory in Freudian psychoanalysis.
Initially, reparative therapy was welcomed by many 'Ex-Gay' and homosexual Christian groups who saw it as a means of reconciling their beliefs with their sexuality and as a way of gaining greater acceptance in their respective churches or ministries.
Lately, it has been adopted by much larger, mainstream religious groups, particularly in the USA. Many in these mainstream groups see it as a kinder way of approaching the 'homosexual problem'. It has also been used by some of these groups to influence public opinion and sway legislators "from supporting equal rights domestic partnership and hate crime legislation."[1]
The difficulty with the claim the scientific evidence for change does not exist is that many studies indicate that while change is not a universal phenomena, for some percentage of individuals who orient toward homosexuality, some orientation change does occur. For instance, Ben Newman's Research Shows Change Is Real discusses 48 studies of homosexuality with the question in mind, "Is change possible?" Every study listed included some evidence of a heterosexual shift in subjects' sexual orientation.
Those who are convinced that homosexuality is caused by genetic factors may view conversion therapy as not only impotent but potentially damaging pseudoscience.
Both the theory and practice have come under heavy criticism from gay rights groups, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Medical Association, the American Psychological Association, the American Counseling Association, and the National Association of Social Workers, the Royal College of Nursing and other organizations.
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) concluded in 1973 that homosexuality is not a mental illness and states that there are no scientifically rigorous studies to indicate the actual "efficacy or harm of 'reparative' treatments" and that "reparative" therapists have yet to produce "any rigorous scientific research to substantiate their claims of cure." The APA position statement on reparative therapy states that "recent publicized efforts to repathologize homosexuality by claiming that it can be cured are often guided not by rigorous scientific or psychiatric research, but sometimes by religious and political forces opposed to full civil rights for gay men and lesbians." The APA position statement ends with a recommendation to ethical practitioners to "refrain from attempts to change individuals' sexual orientation, keeping in mind the medical dictum to first, do no harm."
Controversy
History
Conversion therapy is not a new idea and, in fact, harks back to the start of psychology itself. Researchers such as Irving Bieber, Lawrence Hatterer and Sigmund Freud believed that homosexuality could be 'cured' through a variety of techniques, including "aversion therapy, nausea producing drugs, castration, electric shock, brain surgery, breast amputations, etc."[1]. Proponents
There are organizations, such as Exodus International, NARTH and the International Healing Foundation, which advocate the idea that sexual orientation is not fixed by genetic factors and support the belief that reparative therapy is genuine. Opponents
There are people and groups who oppose these therapies, usually on the grounds that there is little scientific evidence that the techniques work. There is also opposition from the those who espouse the cultural argument that homosexuality is not immoral or harmful to the individual or society.
- Ray Fowler, PhD, CEO, American Psychological Association. (From the Utah Psychologist, Winter, 1998, p. 11.)Techniques
Reparative therapy uses a number of techniques, including counselling, aversion therapy, male bonding, fasting, reading scripture, and prayer. External Links