Is it possible to turn homosexual

Another study presented today even contradicted the finding. Ariel Shidlo and Michael Shroeder, two psychologists in private practice in New York City, found that of homosexual subjects who received therapy to change their sexual orientation, the majority failed to do so. Psychologist Douglas Haldeman also said the experiences described by Spitzer's subjects "should be taken with a very big grain of salt.

What I am disputing is that is invariably the outcome. In fact, he said, many of his subjects had been despondent and even suicidal themselves, for the opposite reason — "precisely because they had previously thought there was no hope for them, and they had been told by many mental health professionals that there was no hope for them, they had to just learn to live with their homosexual feelings. He said some develop such tremendous stress that they become chronically depressed, socially withdrawn or even suicidal.

But Spitzer says his study shows that some homosexuals making some effort, usually for a few years, make the change. Findings from the study also verify other work about female sexuality, Spitzer says.

It is known that female sexuality is more fluid. Haldeman, however, noted that some 43 percent of those sampled were referred by religious groups that condemn homosexuality. Another 23 percent were referred by the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, which says most of its members consider homosexuality a developmental disorder. But Spitzer says while the people in his sample were unusual — more religious than the general population — it doesn't mean their experiences can be dismissed.

And, he said, it doesn't mean they aren't telling the truth. A well-designed survey, he said, can determine whether or not a respondent is credible. All you need to do is find them and reach out.

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Is there a quiz I can take? Then how am I supposed to know? How can I ever be sure that my orientation is X? What does this mean for my sexual and reproductive health? Do I have to tell people?

What implications can this have? How can I go about telling someone? In , renowned mathematician Alan Turing was convicted of gross indecency in the U. Throughout the s and into the mids, treatments in the U.

Given that homosexual activity was also criminally prosecuted in the U. One of the most popular aversion techniques was "orgasmic reconditioning" — men would be shown erotic pictures of other men, and if they became aroused, they would receive an electric shock on their genitals. Therapists also gave patients drugs that induced vomiting or paralysis, or exposed them to noxious chemicals like ammonia, whenever they were aroused by same-sex photos.

Some aversion treatments included rewards — including pleasant smells — for arousal in response to pictures of women. There was also shame aversion therapy, first used in the s, which involved continually subjecting the patient to public shame or humiliation over his same-sex arousal. Another method was satiation therapy , in which a subject was told to masturbate over and over while verbally describing his homosexual fantasies, until they disappeared — or, at least, diminished.

These "therapies" were generally ineffective — the person remained attracted to the same sex — or over-effective — the person was traumatized and lost all sexual arousal entirely.

They "were used without people thinking about whether they were humane," Glassgold says. Not all treatments were so gruesome: Lionel Ovesey, a Columbia University psychoanalyst and author of Homosexuality and Pseudohomosexuality , created a behavioral method in the s.

It was based on the idea that homosexuality originated from a fear of taking on the normal qualities of one's gender. Other non-aversive treatments following this theory focused on building "educational skills" like dating techniques, assertiveness training, and affection coaching to increase interactions with women. Also encouraged: plenty of heterosexual intercourse.

Cognitive therapists, meanwhile, made a few attempts to change homosexuals' thought patterns by reframing desires — redirecting thoughts away from homosexual activity — or through hypnosis.

Befitting the times, the mainstream mental health community no longer advocates change treatments, but instead supports approaches that help patients cope with the stress and stigma of being a sexual minority.