Transcript Homosexuality: Myths and Truths - Christian Mental Health Services

Homosexuality
Myths and Truths
Copyright © Melvin W. Wong, Ph.D. 2003
Focus On The Family Singapore, Ltd
(65) 6336 1444
www.family.org.sg
Melvin W. Wong, Ph.D.
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
ChristianMentalHealth.com
220 Montgomery St., Suite 1098, San Francisco, CA 94104, U.S.A.
Homosexuality: Realities
• It occurs with people at the rate of 2%
• Like heterosexual attraction, the existing
homosexual feeling is not a choice; whether
to respond to it in behavior is a choice
• Homosexuals struggle with these feelings
when young with fearfulness & ridicule
• They became activists for vindication: Anger
Homosexuality Myths
1. Homosexuality is “not a disease”
2. Homosexuality is “not preventable”
3. Homosexuality “cannot be treated”
4. All homosexuals “are happy”
5. Re-orientation therapy is “unethical”
手冊
第四版本
Dr. Robert Spitzer’s Research
APA: New Orleans, May 9, 2001 New York Times
Dr. Spitzer led the task force that
in 1973 removed homosexuality
from the official list of mental
disorders contained in the
psychiatric association's
diagnostic manual.
DSM-IV
“Homosexuality is not a disease”
•
•
•
•
1973 APA Committee Action
Political action 政治上的行動
Not a Clinical Decision
Many Psychiatrists and
Psychologists are in disagreement
• NARTH.com: National Association of
Research and Therapy for Homosexuality
Is Homosexuality Preventable?
•
•
•
•
Yes, It is preventable
We need to have healthy marriages
We need to have premarital counseling
We need to educate husband-wife with
effective Conflict Resolution Skills
• Early detection of Gender Insecurity
DSM-IV Sexual and Gender Identity
Disorders, Quote (page 536)
By late adolescence or adulthood,
about three-quarters of boys who
had a childhood history of
Gender Identity Disorder report
a homosexual or bisexual
orientation,
Homosexuality Is Preventable
Gender Identity Disorder: GID
Is a precursor-cause of adult
“homosexual or bisexual
orientation,”
Prevention of childhood GID
Effective Parenting & School
Is Homosexuality Treatable?
• Yes, It is treatable but it is hard and
takes a long time
• Needs great personal motivation
• It cannot be forced or imposed
• It is not for everyone, some accept it
• Marriage is not a measure of recovery
Dr. Robert Spitzer’s Research
APA: New Orleans, May 9, 2001 New York Times
But he said he decided that a
study was needed after
talking with protesters
objecting to the association's
policy discouraging
such therapies.
Dr. Robert Spitzer’s Research
APA: New Orleans, May 9, 2001 New York Times
Dr. Spitzer said.
"It occurred to me that maybe the
general consensus,
which was that the behavior can be
resisted but sexual orientation
couldn't be changed, was wrong,"
“Markedly” or “Extremely”
Bothered by Depression
80%
60%
43% 47%
Male
Female
40%
20%
1%
4%
0%
BEFORE
AFTER
Sexual Attraction Scale Mean
(100 = same sex, 0 = opposite sex)
100%
80%
Male
Female
60%
40%
20%
0%
BEFORE
AFTER
Change effort was “Very Helpful”
in…
…feeling more [masculine,
feminine]
…developing nonsexual
relations with same sex
87%
93%