Is Treating Homosexuality Ethical And Effective
Homosexuality reorientation therapy is a controversial topic. Its effectiveness as well as the ethics involved stir up much debate. Since homosexuality is not an illness, "The American Psychological Association reiterated the long-standing official position that homosexuality and bisexuality are not mental disorders, (APA, 1998)" (Slife, 2004), can it be treated? If it can, how, and under what circumstances it should be used, are important questions.
Before discussing treatment, original orientation must be understood. "Kinsey suggests that sexual orientation ranges along a continuum from exclusively homosexual (Kinsey rating "6") to exclusively heterosexual (Kinsey rating"0") (House and Miller, 1997)" (Slife, 2004). There are many things to look at and consider when trying to define one's sexuality. The first is identity, or self-labeling, whether a person calls themselves, gay, lesbian or bisexual. The second factor to consider is behavior; does the person have sexual contact with members of the same gender? The third is basic orientation. It is defined as the person's immediate sexual attractions and experiences of romantic love. These feelings are focused on members of the same gender (Evans, 2003). Sexual orientation is not always expressed in one's behavior (APA, 2005). There are questions as to whether the concept of sexual orientation is at all valid. Being gay, lesbian, or bisexual has a different meaning to everyone (Slife, 2004).
"There are numerous theories about the origins of a person's sexual orientation; most scientists today agree that sexual orientation is most likely the result of a complex interaction of environmental, cognitive and biological factors. In most people, sexual orientation is shaped at an early age. There is also considerable recent evidence to suggest that biology, including genetic or inborn hormonal factors, play a significant role in a person's sexuality. In summary, it is important...
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