Homosexuality, as a mental disorder?!?

Question

Before anyone starts having a go, this isn't meant to anger anybody. Just hear me out:

There have been studies and tests recently, that have led scientists and psychologists to believe that homosexuality is just a mis-firing in the brain, a mental disorder. Something that can be treated, put right, or 'cured'.

How does that make you feel hearing of those studies? Does it make you question yourself? Or what is the arguement against this?

I promise I'm not being rude to anyone, I'm just curious as to what someone thinks when they are told that what they see as a way of life, natural or normal, is actually not at all.

It needn't be homosexuality, could be anything, but this is the most common example I could find that involves a scientific study actually suggesting such things about such a sizeable group of people.

I really really am not aiming to upset people. And I am NOT asking your views on homosexuality.

I am asking what it feels like to be told that the way you are is wrong when it feels natural to you. Nothing more.

Homosexuality was just the biggest example I could think of, of this happening

I AM NOT ASKING IF YOU THINK BEING GAY IS WRONG. (I don't think it is if you are)

I AM NOT ASKING IF YOU THINK BEING GAY IS A MENTAL ILLNESS. (It probably isn't)

I am asking what goes through your mind, when something you feel is natural, is branded as wrong in a study like that

Answer 1

when/if you can provide links to a report that says this, then and only then will I give it thought.

*

Answer 2

"There have been studies and tests recently, that have led scientists and psychologists to believe that homosexuality is just a mis-firing in the brain, a mental disorder. Something that can be treated, put right, or 'cured'."

This is completely fictional - there are no such studies with that conclusion.

Homosexuals may HAVE mental disorders more often than others, but because of social influences rather than any brain misfires. Mental disorders can be alleviated by therapeutic means, but the homosexuality that may have been a factor is not altered, nor does it need to be to effect a "cure.".

Answer 3

I would interpret the studies as finding certain patterns of firing that are associated with homosexuality. I wouldn't take it further to mean it's a disorder. Let me give you an analogy:

Frequently in anatomy lab (in med school) we find people with blood vessel or nerve arrangements that differ from the general population. But their differences don't cause them any problems; it's simply a variation. So the nerve branches off in the upper arm rather than the forearm -- big deal. They can still use their arm. It would be riskier to surgically "fix" it rather than to leave it alone.

In psychology, the reasoning is similar. As long as it doesn't cause someone problems, it's not a disorder. Otherwise we'd be diagnosing everyone with "mental disorders" (not that we aren't doing this already). And yes, being gay is associated with certain bad things like depression, but that's because of society.

And like in all of medicine, the "cure" may be worse than the condition.

Answer 4

Where did you read this? And is this supposed to be a misfiring when the brain is first developed (which could make sense) or consistent misfiring at an adult age which makes one gay (which doesn't make sense)? Sexual orientation is established by age 8 and is pretty much permanent after that, misfiring of the homosexual nature would have to be very frequent indeed if it's a "disorder" for adults, and it's very improbable.

Also neurologists have long demonstrated that homosexuality features notable differences in the chemical composition as well as the very structure of the brain. Men and women have significantly different brain structures and patterns, and the interesting thing is that gays literally have women brains and lesbians have male brains. It could be construed as a mental disorder (in the sense that an under-developed Wernicke's Area could be) but it does exist in the brain itself and isn't really a conscious choice - or even treatable for that matter.

Answer 5

This was just posted by Special agent ? Is it a sickness?: Several mental and medical health organizations have each studied homosexuality but came to the same conclusion: homosexuality isn't a mental illness, moral depravity, it is as natural as heterosexuality and is unchosen and unchangeable. Here are the organizations: American Psyciatric Association American Psychological Association American Counseling Association American Bar Association American Academy of Pediatrics American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy American Psychoanalytic Association American Anthropoligical Association American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry American Medical Association Child Welfare League of America American Academy of Family Physicians North American Counil on Adoptable Children American School Counselor Association National Association of School Psychologists On top of that, every study done to say homosexuality is unnatural or wrong has been found to have serious flaws and most have been found to be rooted on religious grounds (such as NARTH, Focus on the Family)

Answer 6

what "recent" studies and tests are you talking about? it has been YEARS since homosexuality was no longer considered a "mental disorder."
you cannot cure something that is not an illness. it's not a "miss-firing" in the brain. it's simply a genetic variance...like the color of your hair or eyes or skin.
I suggest you read studies that actually ARE recent before posting similar questions. because most will consider this insulting.
I don't question myself because I've always been the way I am, the way I was born, the way God created me.

Answer 7

I guess my response to that would probably be "How do we know it's a misfiring?". My concept of 'disease' or 'mental disorder' has always been something that causes someone problems in life, be it pain, or inability to do something, and so on. Just because something occurs differently in one body than it does in another, does that mean one of them has a disease? And do we proscribe the term 'disease' to one simply because he/she has the 'anomaly' merely because it's in the minority?

Not that long ago, being left-handed was something that was seen as a problem, even though left to their own devices, being left-handed wouldn't hamper a person in any way whatsoever. Lefties had a bad time (the word 'sinister' derives from it, in fact), and parents and teachers often forced them to write and do things with their right hands (my piano teacher was actually subject to this). There is certainly a biological basis to left-handedness. It is certainly a minority of the world population. Does that mean it is a disease? Certainly not; and I feel similarly about homosexuality.

Moreover, I am VERY doubtful that sexual orientation can be changed, or 'cured', in any direction. Everywhere I go, people seem to think that there's one gene, one DNA strand, one neuron firing in the brain that creates your entire sexual identity. I won't buy it. Everything that I see only seems to stress the fact that human sexuality, at least (perhaps it's different for animals), is the most complex thing out there. Even if it has a biological base, I think that it is influenced and shaped by our environments, the people in our lives, our personalities, formative experiences as children, you name it. (Interesting factoid: a few nights ago on a radio sex talk show, I discovered that oftentimes people who had long hospital stays as children get into BDSM. Cool!). So I just doubt that homosexuality is all about one "misfire" in the brain. Perhaps it's that firing neuron that gives the biological BASIS to homosexuality (i.e your scent receptors responding to the pheremones of the same, and not opposite, sex), but we build on top of this basis to create our final sexual identities, which are hardly ever static or unchanging, but constantly evolving. That's my opinion, at least.

How do I feel about hearing of these studies? Well, not much, except a little amusement. I'm still waiting for more conclusive things (plus, I'm bisexual, so I'd like to see research that took bisexuality into account). They certainly don't make me question myself at all. People could tell me all the live long day that I'm sick in the head . . . I don't think I am, I don't feel that I am, so why would I try to change?

My favorite saying for this question: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Hope that helps!

Answer 8

I don't really know how that makes me feel. Regardless of whatever findings they have...this is me...this is who I am..this is who I accept. I can't question myself..I have to be who I am..whether it is hormonal during the pregnancy or a mis-firing in the brain really doesn't make any difference.
How would you feel if someone told you that part of your base character was a mis-firing in your brain? I say that not to insult you --but maybe to make you realize how hard it is to answer a question like that.
If it is a mental disorder then I have a hard time accounting for the fact that it has always been part of the human spectrum. Evolution doesn't allow things that are not evolutionarily advantageous.
I am really trying to answer your question honestly..I do believe that you don't mean it to be insulting :)

Answer 9

Your "scientific study" is a joke. So many people could not possibly have the same "symptoms" of a "mental illness." No two human minds will develop the exact same results from a "misfiring." Studies on the causes of homosexuality are not worth the paper they are written on. It is a human condition, and has been around for the whole of human history. Don't try to explain it away with "science."

Answer 10

Wow.....thats interesting. I have never heard that. However,
if people say that.....the next thing will be that being heterosexual is a mental disorder. I think that YES something is triggered in our brains that tells us.....Gay or straight, but as far as something that can be "cured"....... NO!! Who are we to judge people who are homosexual?? If you think about it they can say the same thing. We dont understand homosexuality....maybe they dont understand heterosexuals. Its a way of life.
Some people do choose it, but I think that most.....that is just who they are.
I am not Gay. I think your question is very interesting and I look forward to other peoples comments and opinions..... not the rude of course. Unfortunately, there will be some idiots who
have to be stupid.
Thanks for the great topic.

Answer 11

What goes through my mind?
First, why does anyone feel the need to study that? Who cares why homosexuals are homosexual- they are, they exist, and they are human. Would you study why blacks are black, or why cats are cats, or why some people have really great singing voices?

I don't know why people cant just accept that people are what they are, even if they aren't what you are.