Homosexuality: historical perspectives and contemporary issues

Homosexuality

Understanding the Psychology of Homosexuality

In the world today, few issues are as contested, debated, questioned, and significant as the question of homosexuality. While homosexuality is accepted to a degree in the Western industrialized nations, it is still a crime punishable by death in regimes run by certain religions traditions and a socially unacceptable behavior in other cultures. Even where it is, for the most part, accepted, homosexuality is often persecuted by groups that see it is immoral; the association between homosexuality and hate crimes is all too prevalent. Yet, homosexuality is no new issue. Evidence suggests that homosexuality existed even with the most ancient cultures. For this reason, homosexuality has been the focus of many scholars' study, including historians, theologians, sociologists, and anthropologists. Looking at homosexuality from a psychological viewpoint, however, raises a different question, namely, that of the origins of homosexuality -- whether it is genetic or a mental predisposition. Understanding the answer to this question will allow greater insight into the subject of homosexuality and its social and political implications. Further, understanding the psychological differences between the heterosexual and the homosexual person will allow students of psychology to better benefit their homosexual clients. Finally, probably the most significant result of understanding a psychological view of homosexuality will be knowing how to address those who hate homosexuals and the idea of homosexuality to such an extent that they commit hate crimes that damage psyches, ruin lives, and damage communities. Through an examination of the history of psychology and homosexuality, link between homosexuality and psychology today, and the possible genetic origins of homosexuality, it becomes clear that in order to understand homosexuality, one must understand the psychology behind it.

Homosexuality and psychology have a long history together, both condemning and aiding one another. Traditionally, psychology was employed in order to help classify homosexuality in a person, just like any other disease would be diagnosed and to treat that behavior that many were beginning to call "unnatural" (Herek, 2009, para. 1). Indeed, the public was just beginning to call homosexuality and other non-traditional, or at least not mentioned, sexual acts "unnatural," believing them to be some sort of "wickedness" (Herek, 2009, paras. 1-2). Before the end of the 12th century, homosexuality was actually accepted, "tolerated or ignored" (Herek, 2009, paras. 1-2). The existence of homosexuality as a normal act was often alluded to in ancient Greek texts and other ancient cultures. It was mainly due to religious influence that homosexuality and other non-traditional sexual relationships were condemned at the end of the 12th century, a condemnation that not only made its way through Europe (Herek, 2009, paras. 1-2), but that is also well-known across the world today. Soon, homosexuality was not just condemned, but it was made illegal. Even in the first American colonies, harsh penalties were put in place for those who engaged in homosexual acts, in addition to those who had sex outside of marriage and even husbands and wives who had sex more non-traditional positions (Herek, 2009, para. 2).

This is where psychology comes in. At first, psychology and homosexuality shared the relationship of the treatment and the disease -- a move that some considered progressive, for homosexuals were now considered to be more sick than they were criminal or sinful (Herek, 2009, para. 2). Both medicine and psychology worked together in order to cure the disease using a variety of methods, including conversion and aversion therapy. This is also when scholars began suggesting that homosexuality was not, actually, a disorder, but a lifestyle choice. Sigmund Freud and Havelock Ellis were among the most progressive psychologists who espoused that homosexuality was not necessarily unnatural. Ellis was one of the first proponents of the belief that homosexuality was a trait that one is born with, like any other characteristic, while Freud believed that children are born as bisexuals and their environments determine whether they will become homosexual or heterosexual (Herek, 2009, paras. 4-5). Freud's theory became a cornerstone in the way that psychology treated homosexuality after that period, although all did not accept it. Further, as time progressed, the validity of studies regarding homosexuals and psychology was questioned. Because psychoanalytic studies focused on those people who were already homosexual and because they were not tested using empirical standards, today's psychologists must question the results of these studies into Feud's psychoanalysis (Herek, 2009, paras. 9-11). In the modern era, other researchers found that many adults had actually been homosexual during at least one part of their lives, and that homosexuality should and was considered to be normal among the population (Herek, 2009, paras. 10-15). Finally, homosexuality was removed from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manuel of Mental Disorders in 1973, beginning its new era as a semi-accepted behavior, as it was no longer classified as a disease.

Today, homosexuality is no longer considered a disease, but psychology still plays an important role in helping people come to understand their sexual identity. According to the Encyclopedia of Psychology there are four "components of human sexuality" -- biological sex, gender identity sexual orientation, and social sex role. Today, most psychologists agree that sexual orientation cannot be changed because many have attempted to change their sexual orientation, but have been unable to do so ("Homosexuality," n.d., paras. 3, 5). Still, some psychologists, like those from the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality, believe that a person can change his or her sexual orientation if he or she is uncomfortable with it. The National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality is an institution that calls for "an openness to differing worldviews, values and philosophies" -- more specifically the worldview that homosexuality is a disease and disorder (National Association for Research & Therapy, 2008, para. 3). The National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality seeks to "to provide psychological understanding of the cause, treatment and behavior patterns associated with homosexuality, within the boundaries of a civil public dialogue" (National Association for Research & Therapy, 2008, para. 6). Thus, they are of the opinion that the question on homosexuality has not been answered, and that psychologists must keep an open mind and provide treatment to those who feel homosexual urges and feel uncomfortable with this. Professors like Sutton have attempted to teach this view in their psychology college classrooms. Teaching at a Catholic university, Sutton found his students to be "open to and sympathetic with the material on reparative therapy of homosexuality" (Sutton, 2008, para. 4). Sutton argues that teaching these alterative views, as the students responded to them. Sutton (2008) writes, "The students also voiced their disappointment with the current polemical and political nature of research and treatment of homosexuality in the mental-health profession, and I believe they were pleased to discover that there is competent, professional help available for persons who struggle with homosexual desires and behaviors" (para. 22).

Parents with children who have "come out" as homosexuals have sought therapy of this sort, and some psychologists have reported successful results with this kind of therapy. Still, because most of these reports have come from agencies who are clearly of the idea that sexual orientation is something that can be changed, and because they are often not in conjunction with the empirical standards of testing and research, these results cannot be accepted by the American Psychological Association, which holds that therapies of this sort can cause negative results. Because "Sexual orientation is a complex component of one's personality not limited to sexual behavior," attempting to change a person's sexual identity can certainly be traumatic for this person" ("Homosexuality," n.d., para. 8).

The majority view, on the other hand, uses psychology to help homosexuals in the process of understanding their sexual orientation and feeling comfortable with it. They base this view on the fact that "scientific research over 30 years confirms that homosexual orientation is not associated with emotional or social problems. Based on research conducted in the 1960s, psychologists, psychiatrists, and other mental health professionals concluded that homosexuality is not an illness, mental disorder, or emotional problem" ("Homosexuality," n.d., para. 5). Because the "coming out" process is "strongly related to psychological adjustment," ("Homosexuality," n.d., para. 5), psychologists are tasked with helping homosexuals who are having a difficult time with the process of discussing their sexual orientation. Many homosexuals undergo this "coming out" process during there teenage years, when sexuality is beginning to emerge, this process can be even more traumatic or difficult, as teenagers already are dealing with major life changes ("Homosexuality," n.d., para. 10). Thus, the presence of a psychologist is even more necessary in these cases. Further, because "being able to discuss one's sexual orientation is a sign of positive mental health and strong self-esteem for a gay man or lesbian" ("Homosexuality," n.d., para. 6), many psychologists see that encouraging this ability is the primary goal of psychologists' interactions with gays and lesbians, in addition to helping them deal with "false stereotypes and prejudice" ("Homosexuality," n.d., para. 6). In addition, psychologists are also tasked with helping homosexuals who are in counseling for a variety of reasons, whether this be for relationship counseling with their significant other or for one of the many other reasons that people attend counseling sessions ("Homosexuality," n.d., para. 8). While homosexuality is not the primary focus of a person's identity that counselors fixate on during these sessions, it is important that counselors take the fact that their client is a homosexual into consideration. By doing this, the counselor can determine whether or not there may be issues associated with their sexual orientation or coming out process that may be affecting other areas of their lives.

Thus, the association between psychology and homosexuality began tumultuous, but has progressed to an era where psychology helps homosexuals understand their position in society and the feelings that they are having regarding their sexual orientation. What many psychologists once considered a disease is now considered to be normal, and psychologists are even at the forefront of normalizing the behavior. Today, psychologists play an important role in helping homosexuals, a role that each person undergoing the "coming out" process should take advantage of. Because psychologists have undertaken this progressive stance on the issue of homosexuality, they are being able to help more people than ever before, allowing others to accept themselves for who they are. Still, the existence of psychologists who believe homosexuality can be treated are important if only for diversity's sake. Because homosexuality is an issue that has a great deal of significance in the political and religious worlds, an issue whose origins science still cannot define, allowing these organizations to operate is an expression of freedom, and should be viewed as such.