WASHINGTON, DC, May 9, 2001 (LSN.ca) – Dr. Robert Spitzer, “the” instrumental figure in the American Psychiatric Association’s 1973 decision to remove homosexuality from its diagnostic manual of mental disorders, has announced a new study, which has altered his beliefs on the issue. “Like most psychiatrists,” says Spitzer, “I thought that homosexual behavior could be resisted, but sexual orientation could not be changed. I now believe that’s untrue—some people can and do change.” Spitzer presented his study today at the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association.
In the most detailed investigation of sexual orientation change to date, Spitzer interviewed 200 subjects (143 men and 57 women) who had experienced a significant shift from homosexual to heterosexual attraction, which had lasted for at least five years. Most of the subjects said their religious faith was very important in their lives, and about three-quarters of the men and half of the women had been heterosexually married by the time of the study. Most had sought change because a gay lifestyle had been emotionally unsatisfying. Many had been disturbed by promiscuity, stormy relationships, a conflict with their religious values, and the desire to be (or to stay) heterosexually married.
Typically, the effort to change did not produce significant results for the first two years. Subjects said they were helped by examining their family and childhood experiences, and understanding how those factors might have contributed to their gender identity and sexual orientation. Same-sex mentoring relationships, behavior-therapy techniques and group therapy were also mentioned as particularly helpful.
To the researchers’ surprise, good heterosexual functioning was reportedly achieved by 67% of the men who had rarely or never felt any opposite-sex attraction before the change process. Nearly all the subjects said they now feel more masculine (in the case of men) or more feminine (women).
Spitzer concludes that “Contrary to conventional wisdom some highly motivated individuals, using a variety of change efforts, can make substantial change in multiple indicators of sexual orientation, and achieve good heterosexual functioning.” But, Dr. Spitzer said, his findings suggest that complete change—cessation of all homosexual fantasies and attractions (which is generally considered an unrealistic goal in most therapies) is probably uncommon. Still, when subjects did not actually change sexual orientation—for example, their change had been one of behavioral control and self-identity, but no significant shift in attractions—they still reported an improvement in overall emotional health and functioning.
For more see the press release from the NARTH website: https://www.narth.com/docs/spitzer2.html