Ex-Gay Research: Analyzing the Spitzer Study and Its Relation to Science, Religion, Politics, and Culture

by Drescher; Jack

• ISBN13: 9781560235576
• ISBN10: 1560235578
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2006-03-22
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Defenders and critics of the controversial Spitzer study analyze its methodologies and findings In 2001, Robert L. Spitzer, MD, presented his study on sexual conversion therapy with its controversial findings that some homosexuals can change their sexual orientation. The resulting media sensation and political firestorm enraged the study's critics and emboldened its supporters. Ex-Gay Research: Analyzing the Spitzer Study and Its Relation to Science, Religion, Politics, and Culture presents leading experts examining Spitzer's research methodology and findings to discern whether the study itself deserves deeper consideration or outright dismissal. Every facet of the study is reviewed to discuss the positive or negative aspects of the results, its significance in political and social terms, and the implications for the future. Dr. Spitzer himself was an instrumental figure in the American Psychiatric Association's decision in 1973 to remove homosexuality as a mental illness listing from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-III. His later study that states that in some individuals,homosexuality may be more fluid than previously thought stirred controversy in the psychiatric community and society at large. His study is presented here to allow the reader to evaluate and consider it for themselves. Leading experts then voice their own pro or con views on the methodology and findings. Ex-Gay Research: Analyzing the Spitzer Study and Its Relation to Science, Religion, Politics, and Culture fearlessly illustrates the sometimes fuzzy boundary between science and politics, courageously spotlighting the culture wars now dividing our society. Ex-Gay Research: Analyzing the Spitzer Study and Its Relation to Science, Religion, Politics, and Culture discusses: the ex-gay movement the nature of scientific inquiry the relationship between science and politics the results of sexual conversion therapies gay and lesbian rights Ex-Gay Research: Analyzing the Spitzer Study and Its Relation to Science, Religion, Politics, and Culture is essential reading for sex researchers, mental health professionals, pastoral counselors, political activists, and any person asking if one can truly change” his or her homosexuality.

Table of Contents

About the Editors	xi
Contributors	xiii
Preface	xxi
Section I: Editors' Introduction
1. The Politics and Science of "Reparative Therapy"	3	(10)
Kenneth J. Zucker
2. Gold or Lead? Introductory Remarks on Conversions	13	(16)
Jack Drescher
Section II: Perspectives on Changing Sexual Orientation
3. Position Statement on Therapies Focused on Attempts to Change Sexual Orientation (Reparative or Conversion Therapies)	29	(6)
Commission on Psychotherapy by Psychiatrists (COPP) American Psychiatric Association
4. Can Some Gay Men and Lesbians Change Their Sexual Orientation? 200 Participants Reporting a Change from Homosexual to Heterosexual Orientation	35	(32)
Robert L. Spitzer
Section III: Commentaries on the Spitzer Study and Dr. Spitzer's Response from Archives of Sexual Behavior
5. Can Sexual Orientation Change? A Long-Running Saga	67	(8)
John Bancroft
6. Understanding the Self-Reports of Reparative Therapy "Successes"	75	(8)
A. Lee Beckstead
7. The Malleability of Homosexuality: A Debate Long Overdue	83	(6)
A. Dean Byrd
8. A Methodological Critique of Spitzer's Research on Reparative Therapy	89	(6)
Helena M. Carlson
9. Are Converts to Be Believed? Assessing Sexual Orientation "Conversions"	95	(6)
Kenneth M. Cohen
Ritch C. Savin-Williams
10. Reconsidering "Sexual Desire" in the Context of Reparative Therapy	101	(6)
Lisa M. Diamond
11. The Spitzer Study and the Culture Wars	107	(6)
Jack Drescher
12. Sexual Orientation Change: A Study of Atypical Cases	113	(6)
Richard C. Friedman
13. The Politics of Sexual Choices	119	(6)
John H. Gagnon
14. Too Flawed: Don't Publish	125	(6)
Lawrence Hartmann
15. Evaluating Interventions to Alter Sexual Orientation: Methodological and Ethical Considerations	131	(6)
Gregory M. Herek
16. Guttman Scalability Confirms the Effectiveness of Reparative Therapy	137	(4)
Scott L. Hershberger
17. Methodological Limitations Do Not Justify the Claim That Same-Sex Attraction Changed Through "Reparative Therapy"	141	(6)
Craig A. Hill
Jeannie D. DiClementi
18. Initiating Treatment Evaluations	147	(4)
Donald F. Klein
19. A Positive View of Spitzer's Research and an Argument for Further Research	151	(2)
Richard B. Krueger
20. Penile Plethysomography and Change in Sexual Orientation	153	(6)
Nathaniel McConaghy
21. Finally, Recognition of a Long-Neglected Population	159	(6)
Joseph Nicolosi
22. Sexual Orientation Change and Informed Consent in Reparative Therapy	165	(6)
Bruce Rind
23. Reparative Science and Social Responsibility: The Concept of a Malleable Core As Theoretical Challenge and Psychological Comfort	171	(8)
Paula C. Rodriguez Rust
24. A Candle in the Wind: Spitzer's Study of Reparative Therapy	179	(4)
Donald S. Strassberg
25. Spitzer's Oversight: Ethical-Philosophical Underpinnings of "Reparative Therapy"	183	(4)
Marcus C. Tye
26. Sexual Diversity and Change Along a Continuum of Bisexual Desire	187	(6)
Paul L. Vasey
Drew Rendall
27. Science and the Nuremberg Code: A Question of Ethics and Harm	193	(8)
Milton L. Wainberg
Joyce Hunter
Donald Bux
Thomas Irwin
Alex Carballo-Dieguez
Paulo Mottos
Gary W Dowsett
Karen McKinnon
Terry Dugan
Ann O'Leary
Marshall Forstein
Jeffrey Parsons
Karl Goodkin
Edward Stein
28. Sexual Reorientation Therapy: Is It Ever Ethical? Can It Ever Change Sexual Orientation?	201	(8)
Jerome C. Wakefield
29. Heterosexual Identities, Sexual Reorientation Therapies, and Science	209	(8)
Roger L. Worthington
30. How Spitzer's Study Gives a Voice to the Disenfranchised Within a Minority Group	217	(6)
Mark A. Yarhouse
31. Study Results Should Not Be Dismissed and Justify Further Research on the Efficacy of Sexual Reorientation Therapy	223	(12)
Robert L. Spitzer
Section IV: Commentaries on the Spitzer Study and an Interview with Dr. Spitzer from the Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy
32. Studying Sexual Orientation Change: A Methodological Review of the Spitzer Study	235	(16)
Theodorus G.M. Sandfort
33. The Religious Conversion of Homosexuals: Subject Selection Is the Voir Dire of Psychological Research	251	(26)
Charles Silverstein
34. An Analysis of the Media Response to the Spitzer Study	277	(14)
Sean Lund
Cathy Renna
35. Political Science	291	(18)
Wayne Besen
36. The Spitzer Study and the Finnish Parliament	309	(14)
Olli Stålström
Jussi Nissinen
37. An Interview with Robert L. Spitzer, MD	323	(18)
Jack Drescher
Index	341