Can People Who Are Homoesexual Change?

Question

First let me say that I'm not looking for political debate on gay marriage or even asking if homosexuality is right, wrong or other. I'm not asking a baited question and I am not looking for an affirmation of my beliefs.

I hold a degree in psychology and the idea of Sexual Reorientation Therapy came up in a professional conversation. It's basically a type of Cognitive Therapy that aims at discovering what part of the sexual contact arouses the client (is it the "forbidden fruit" aspect, is it misfiring in the brain, is it chemical, etc.) and helping them to reallign their thoughts.

My question is do you think that homosexuality is something that can be changed?

I'm honestly only looking for healthy and civil debate. I'd love to hear from the Gay Community on this one.

Thank you in advance for your contribution!

Sorry, didn't mean for this to be in politics.

*Edit*
Someone asked why I'd like to know.

My colleagues and I differed in our opinions of this. A few believe homosexual behavior can be changed, a few believed it can not. I feel as though this is simply far to personal and complex to label "treatable" or "non-treatable" Whereas there are different types of dependance disorders (i.e. Psychological, Physical or both) there is probably a different etiology for each person. I also believe that people who are homosexual should not be labelled as "abnormal" because I feel it is inate in most cases.

*edit*
Trouble Maker, normally I don't respond to rhetoric like this but you stroke a chord. First, I graduated with a 3.9 from a Big Ten school. Secondly, I was looking for opinions, not an affirmation of facts. Third, by APA guidelines, your experiment was immoral, and if you're a licensed Clinical Psychologist I'd be surprised if it didn't cost you your license.

Answer 1

There are so many theories concerning homosexuality that the answer to your question really hinges on which theory you take as fact. One theory is that homosexuality is most often the result of being molested by a member of the opposite sex during childhood. In that case, yes, with psychoanalysis, it's possible to change. Another theory suggests that it is actually programmed into the brain at birth. In that case, it would undoubtedly be much more difficult to change. A third theory, which is both for homosexuality and for heterosexuality, concerns imprinting. In hetero sexuality, imprinting would come into play when a man, for instance, prefers blondes, or small breasts, or a woman who smokes or any of the other so called fetishes. His first sexual experience, which may or may not be actual sex, involved the object of his fetish (or fetishes). Same for homosexuality. If the individual imprinted his or her first sexual experience, and it was with someone of the same sex, then again, that may be subject to change with therapy, but it would not be easy in adults. I guess, after all this verbiage, the only answer I can give you is "I really don't know"

Answer 2

I know many people strongly believe that gays are born that way, but I disagree. I believe homosexuals can change. I think it's a choice they make to be gay. A lot of them get sucked into it because of our screwed up society and it becomes like an addiction for them. Many gays have changed their sexual orientation and become straight through a Christian organization called 'Exodus', which helps people wishing to leave homosexuality. I feel that it must take a lot of strength to make such a drastic lifestyle change, and I have the utmost respect for those who have successfully done so. It's probably equivalent to kicking a heroin habit. But they simply felt their lifestyle was unhealthy and sinful and wanted to break free of it and enjoy a closer relationship with God. I think it's great and I applaud them.

Answer 3

If you mean the behavior itself, then yes. If you mean the desire aspect, I'm not sure.

For example: I have quite a sweet tooth. I desire sweets of all kinds and when I eat them, I feel satisfied. Obviously, eating sweets is a behavior that I have control over. I choose to pick the sweet up and eat it. So I can choose not to do that as well. However, even if I don't eat sweets, I still desire them. I don't know if there is any way to make that desire go away so that I will not be temped to eat sweets anymore.

If you want to argue that it is genetics or something else that makes me desire sweets that is one thing. However, no gene will every make my hand pick one up and put it in my mouth. That is my chosen behavior, which I can change any time I want.

Obviously, any behavior can be changed (drinking, smoking, eating, sex, etc.). I don't know if you can change desires, but I don't know that it is necessary. I have lots of desires that I don't act on (like ramming the jerk that just cut me off). So I think it is more important to try to control behavior than desires.

Just my 2 cents.

Answer 4

Sure but not with legislation. I would be hard pressed to believe that people don't change, it would make sense to me that people do indeed change their sexual orientation also. However I think the whole premise of forbidden fruit is incorrect and to imply it's a misfiring in the brain or a chemical imbalance is ignorant heterosexual thinking and therefore a flawed theory. Homosexuals don't think their thinking is wrong, neither do I. It's heterosexuals who insist their thinking is wrong, where the wrong thinking lies. These people aren't sick, they just don't believe or practice what heterosexuals practice. That doesn't make them wrong at all.

Answer 5

You can get them to repress their true inclinations, but they would only become homosexuals masquerading as heterosexuals. People who have been through these "conversion" programs tend to end up completely miserable, as they know, deep down, that they're living a lie. Many eventually go back to living their true lives, as the pressure of the deceit grows too much to bear.

A better question would be why should anyone try to change them? They're not hurting anyone by being gay, are they?

Answer 6

From those I know that are homosexual, I still adhere to my belief that you don't CHOOSE to be gay. I think it is something you are born with.

I have nothing concrete to back me up; this is solely based on my observations of friends who are homosexual. I've seen many go from a heterosexual relationship to a homosexual relationship, but it's never been the other way around. I don't think it can be changed.

Great quote from a bumper sticker I gave to a particularly gay friend, "I can't even drive straight!"

Answer 7

Some have, other's can't. I suppose it depends on how one came to the conclusion they were gay in the first place... have they felt that way since they were young? Or was it something just discovered later in life?

I think some people can be programmed to do anything, and others cannot -- just as some are more susceptible to hypnosis than other people. It depends on the individual, I would think, and their depth of understanding/acceptance of their true nature.

Answer 8

There's an interesting article in the latest addition of the Economist. A Lutheran church authorized a study on fraternal twins were both sexes were represented. The study concluded that elevated exposure to testosterone in utero lead to a higher percentage of lesbianism when compared to the general population . . . and vice versa.

Answer 9

Yes and so can heterosexuals. Anything we can imagine, we can desire. At first, a new kink may only be desired during a time of great sexual arousal. In time though, we may come to find it attractive when mildly aroused. The worst sexual experience of my life, I now find delicious, even though it was forced upon me. The more we experience debauchery, the more attractive it becomes to us. We are all capable of anything.

Answer 10

You really need to go back to school .

Behavior modification is always possible .
Look at the large Christian population in the United States .
They are certainly modified by regimented controlled social behaviors that include a healthy dose of Jesus each week .
As attendance falls off so does faith until finally they are free from the oppression that has warped the thinking of their minds and scared them for life .

As for sexuality its a learned behavior and what is learned can be modified to meet with social standards .
Have you ever watched two little boys or girls kiss each other good bye like adults often do .
Have they gotten carried away to the point you said stop .

We impose our own morality on the sexual expression of children socializing them to act in a certain manner . Failure to provide examples of what society deems proper for this sexual expression leads to experimentation and the possibility of forming relationships that are not appropriate in some societies .

Not to long ago women who began having periods where offered in marriage to much older men in the community .

Money changed hands and property and it was not uncommon for a 13-14-15 year old girl to wed a 35 year old man . With property a home and the ability to care for a family .
Today this would be considered illegal .

At one time homosexuality was a common practice as was bisexuality . The problem was women knew that men often carried STD's SO families had young women remain free from sexual relations until they were married in civilized society's while the rest of the world was still banging on drums and running around naked having sex with anything that moved .

The point is that sexuality is not something that is pre determined .
It is not even fixed for life .
In some primitive cultures A man who has an erection after death was sometimes mounted by his mate in an effort to bring him back to consciousness .
That practice ended .
So it is all about choice . Well those choices you can make given the extreme indoctrination provided in todays culture .
We have stunted the growth and joys of exploration with boundaries and imposed sets of morality that make almost no sense at all .
Unless you want a steady supply of young workers . Who will not spend life roaming from place to place experiencing the world as nature intended .