Self-reports of sexual attraction change in a sample of male psychotherapy consumers in a private practice setting
Keywords:
Sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE), sexual attraction, same-sex attraction, opposite-sex attraction, sexual attraction change, conversion therapy, reparative therapy, sexual reorientation, Kinsey Scale, Klein Sexual Orientation GridAbstract
The purpose of this study was to see if clients in a private practice therapy setting reported any changes in how they rated their sexual attraction, their stated goal. The therapy was conducted weekly, lasting at least one year. The sample was comprised of 30 men whose desired goal was toward a shift from same-sex attraction to opposite-sex attraction. A convenience sample from the author’s private practice, over a 5-year span, was used. Clients were invited to complete surveys at intake, between 12-18 months into therapy, and one year afterwards. Following the format of the Klein Sexual Orientation Grid, clients were asked about sexual attraction on a measurable continuum. A repeated-measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test the differences between the pre, mid, and post responses. In this sample, at 1 year post-discharge, 10% reported their sexual attraction as “for the other sex somewhat” vs. 0 % at baseline; 17% reported their sexual attraction as “for the other sex mostly” vs. 0 % at baseline; and 23% reported their sexual attraction was “for the other sex only” vs. 0 % at baseline. These outcomes proved statistically significant changes from baseline compared to follow up. Despite the study’s limitations, significant sexual attraction shifts from same-sex to opposite-sex were self-reported in a highly motivated clinical sample of men.
Downloads
Metrics
References
American Psychological Association (APA) Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation. (2009). Report of the Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation. Washington, DC: Author.
Deci, E., & Ryan, R. (Eds.). (2002). Handbook of self-determination research. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press.
Diamond, L. M. (2009). Sexual fluidity. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
Diamond, L. M. (2014). Gender and same-sex sexuality. In D. Tolman, & L. Diamond, (Eds). APA Handbook of Sexuality and Psychology, Volume 1. Person Based Approaches (pp 629-652). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Dickson, N., Paul, C., & Herbison, P. (2003). Same-sex attraction in a birth cohort: prevalence and persistence in early adulthood. Social Science Medicine, 56(8),1607-15. doi: 10.1016/S0277-9536(02)00161-2
Doidge, N. (2007). The brain that changes itself. New York: Penguin.
Gilbert, M, & Orlans, V. (2011). Integrative therapy. New York: Routledge.
Gordon, A. (1930). The history of a homosexual: His difficulties and triumphs. Medical Journal and Record, 131, 152-156.
Jones, S. L., & Yarhouse, M. A. (2011). A longitudinal study of attempted religiously mediated sexual orientation change. Journal of Sex and Martial Therapy, 37, 404–427. doi: 10.1080/0092623X.2011.607052
Karten, E. L., & Wade, J. C. (2010). Sexual orientation change efforts in men: A client perspective. Journal of Men’s Studies, 18, 84–102. doi: 10.3149/jms.1801.84
Kinnish, K. K., Strassberg, D. S., & Turner, C. W. (2005). Sex differences in the flexibility of sexual orientation: a multidimensional retrospective assessment. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 34(2),173-83. doi: 10.1007/s10508-005-1795-9
Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., & Martin, C. E. (1948). Sexual behavior in the human male. Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders.
Klein, F., Sepekoff, B., & Wolf, T. J. (1985). Sexual orientation: A multi-variable dynamic process. Journal of Homosexuality, 11(1-2), 35-49. doi: 10.1300/J082v11n01_04
Nicolosi, J., Byrd, A. D., & Potts, R. W. (2000). Retrospective self-reports of changes in homosexual orientation: A consumer survey of conversion therapy clients. Psychological Reports, 86(3), 1071-1088. doi: 10.2466/pr0.2000.86.3c.1071
Rosenzweig, S. (1936). Some implicit common factors in diverse methods of psychotherapy. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 6, 412–415.
Sell, R. L. (1997). Defining and measuring sexual orientation: A review. Archives of Sexual Behavior,26(6), 643-658. doi: 10.1023/A:1024528427013
Sell, R.L. (n.d.). LGBTData.com (Program for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health, Drexel University School of Public Health). Retrieved from: http://www.lgbtdata.com
Serovich J. M., Craft, S. M, Toviessi, P., Gangamma, R., McDowell, T., & Grafsky, E. L. (2008). A systematic review of the research base on sexual reorientation therapies. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 34(2), 227-38. doi: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2008.00065.x.
Shidlo, A., & Schroeder, M. (2002). Changing sexual orientation: A consumer’s report. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 33(3), 249-259. doi 10.1037/0735-7028.33.3.249
Spitzer, R. L. (2003). Can some gay men and lesbians change their sexual orientation? 200 participants reporting a change from homosexual to heterosexual orientation. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 32(5), 403-417. doi: 0004-0002/03/1000-0403/0
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Authors can retain copyright, while granting the journal right of first publication. Alternatively, authors can transfer copyright to the journal, which then permits authors non-commercial use of the work, including the right to place it in an open access archive. In addition, Creative Commons can be consulted for flexible copyright licenses.
©1999 Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
