[Does homosexuality have a place in psychopathology? III. Behavioral approach and homosexuality]

The behavioral approach does not propose any global explaining theory of homosexuality. It was the subject of many clinical and experimental works. Some questions and hypotheses are raised on the theoretical and therapeutical as well as ethical frames. When the behaviorist speaks of homosexuality, he only refers to the mode of behavior, at the object and not to deep characteristics of the individual. The homosexual behavior is defined as resulting from a sexual excitation in the presence of uncommon stimuli. The sexual preference is not considered as the proof of a psychopathological problem. On the etiological ground, the homosexual behavior is resulting from a social learning with a possibility of biological predisposition. The therapeutic approach is controversial. Some authors feel the behaviorist should refuse to help the patient changing his sexual orientation, even if he asks for it.