Retrospective Self-Reports of Changes in Homosexual Orientation

A Consumer Survey of Conversion Therapy Clients

Bibliographic Data

ID13660302
AuthorsJoseph Nicolosi (National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality, corresponding author), A Dean Byrd (University of Utah), R Potts (0000-0001-6008-0100, Utah Valley Regional Medical Center), Richard W Potts (Utah Valley Regional Medical Center)
Year2000
Volume86
Issue3_part_2
Pages1071-1088
Publication date2000-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychological Reports (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-2941 • E-ISSN: 1558-691X
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/003329410008600302.2
PMID10932560
OpenAlexW4248535967
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited22

We present the results of a survey of 882 dissatisfied homosexual people whom we queried about their beliefs regarding conversion therapy and the possibility of change in sexual orientation. There were 70 closed-ended questions on the survey and 5 open-ended ones. Of the 882 participants, 726 of them reported that they had received conversion therapy from a professional therapist or a pastoral counselor. Of the participants 779 or 89.7% viewed themselves as “more homosexual than heterosexual,” “almost exclusively homosexual,” or “exclusively homosexual” in their orientation before receiving conversion therapy or making self-help efforts to change. After receiving therapy or engaging in self-help, 305 (35.1%) of the participants continued to view their orientation in this manner. As a group, the participants reported large and statistically significant reductions in the frequency of their homosexual thoughts and fantasies that they attributed to conversion therapy or-self-help. They also reported large improvements in their psychological, interpersonal, and spiritual well-being. These responses cannot, for several reasons, be generalized beyond the present sample, but the attitudes and ideas are useful in developing testable hypotheses for further research

Homosexuality · Interpersonal communication · Orientation (vector space · Psychiatry · Psychoanalysis · Psychotherapist · Sex therapy · Sexual dysfunction · Sexual orientation · Clinical Psychology · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Marriage and Sexual Relationships · Psychology · Reproductive Health and Technologies · Social Psychology

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