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Is a homosexual orientation irreversible?

The British Journal of Psychiatry : the Journal of Mental Science

|December 1, 1976

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Aversive therapy reduced homosexual feelings and behaviors in patients. However, measured sexual orientation did not significantly change compared to positive conditioning, indicating limited impact on underlying orientation.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Behavioral Science
Clinical Psychology

Background:

Homosexuality has been a focus of therapeutic interventions.
Aversive and positive conditioning are therapeutic modalities explored for behavioral change.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the efficacy of aversive therapy and positive conditioning in modifying homosexual feelings and behavior.
To assess changes in measured sexual orientation following these interventions.

Main Methods:

Four studies involved homosexual patients randomly assigned to aversive or positive conditioning therapies.
Penile volume responses to visual stimuli measured sexual orientation before and after treatment.

Main Results:

Aversive therapies led to reductions in homosexual feelings and behavior.

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One study showed aversive therapy was more effective than positive conditioning.

No significant change in measured sexual orientation was observed between aversive and positive conditioning groups.

Conclusions:

Aversive therapy can reduce homosexual feelings and behaviors but does not significantly alter measured sexual orientation.
The findings differentiate the impact of these therapies on behavior versus orientation.