Comments on female homosexuality

The author explores to what extent the first gender-identical love between mother and daughter shapes female self representation and becomes influential for later homosexual relations among women. Literary examples and case vignettes illustrate the connection.     

Sex-role identity and male and female homosexuality

The incidences of sex-role outcome within homosexual and heterosexual male and female young adult samples were compared using a fourfold typology (both masculine and feminine, masculine, feminine, neither masculine nor feminine). Sex-role identity disparities between the female groups were more clear-cut; the most striking difference was the high incidence of masculinity (60%) within the homosexual female group. No significant differences for males were found, although a trend was noted toward higher incidence of femininity and lower incidence of masculinity in homosexuals. The second purpose of the study was to search for possible developmental antecedents to heterosexual deficit in unselected college samples. The same key pattern of psychometric indices was identified for males and females. Low heterosexuality and the closest approximation to the modal sex-role identity among homosexuals of their sex were found in females primarily identified with masculine fathers and low in role consistency and in males primarily identified with feminine mothers and low in role consistency.     

Male and female homosexuality (discussion)

Abstract

Cohler J. Male and Female Homosexuality (Discussion). Int Forum Psychoanal 1992; 1:79-83. Stockholm. ISSN 0803-706X

This discussion raises questions about an apparent basic assumption in Professor Dr Rohde-Dachser's paper: homosexuality contributes primarily to progression. Rather than seeing homosexuality as a variant of a normal developmental line, this discussion concurs with Freud, Bieber, Socarides, McDougall et al, that it represents a deviation from a normal developmental line. Moreover our view is in contrast to Professor Dr. Rohde-Dachser's in disputing that the homosexual line of development is progressive. While homosexuality may be adaptive, it is seen as developmentally archaic in terms of adult functioning. To illustrate this point of view the psychoanalysis of an adult male is presented in brief. We conclude here that the homosexual adaptation is an archaic structure representing fixation and regression, rather than being a separate yet maturationally progressive branch of development as Professor Dr. Rhode-Dachser proposes.     

Social categorization in minority influence: The case of homosexuality

Three experiments were conducted in order to compare the influence of ingroup and outgroup minorities and to assess the role of Zeitgeist perception in minority influence. The results confirmed that ingroup minorities are more influential than outgroup minorities. This overall finding was observed in two different experimental paradigms, using either a small group setting in which subjects interacted with the minority or the simultaneous social influence paradigm in which both influence sources impinge simultaneously (via written information) upon the subjects. These results were supportive of Tajfel's social identity theory while contradicting Kelley's augmenting/discounting principle. Finally, subjects' perception of the Zeitgeist was unrelated to the magnitude of minority influence.     

Attitudes toward male and female homosexuality and sex-role stereotypes in Israeli and American students

Although the legal and psychiatric status of homosexuals has drastically changed, public prejudice about homosexuality has not disappeared. Former studies have developed the idea that homophobia is closely related to conservatism in sex-role polarization. The present research investigated sex differences in attitudes toward male and female homosexuality and sex-role polarization in a cross-cultural perspective, comparing young, educated Israelis and Americans. One-hundred seventy students participated in the study, completing a sex-role survey, an attitude toward homosexuality questionnaire, and a social desirability scale. The results indicated that Israelis were more homophobic and more conservative in their sex-role polarization than Americans. Men were more homophobic and more generally conservative in sex-role orientation than women. A positive relationship was found between sex-role polarization and rejection of homosexuality within each of the samples. The results could not be attributed to social desirability. The significance of these findings is discussed in the context of sex differences and differences between Israeli and American cultures.The research reported here was conducted for an M.A. thesis of the second author under the supervision of the first author (in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a master's degree in psychology at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem).     

Male and female internal images in a case of frigidity

Abstract

This is the case of a young woman suffering from a narcissistic personality disturbance with Oedipal aspects. The development of the analytic treatment is stressed through the analysis of her dreams. The analytic setting provided an appropriate mirroring Self-object. Thereby the patient has had the opportunity to express her own defective female grandiose Self, which was at the base of her disturbances.     

Treating homosexuality: a response to Yarhouse.

Professor Mark A. Yarhouse proposes an 'identity synthesis' model of sexual modification therapy for homosexuals. This model is meant primarily to target the process by which one's sexual identity is synthesized, rather than the changing of sexual orientation itself. I highlight some of the advantages of Yarhouse's model along with some of its potential pitfalls. My primary point of departure with Yarhouse concerns how one ought to direct those self-identified homosexual clients who fall within our clinical sphere of influence and who, in the end, contrary to our better judgment, decide that they would like to pursue a course of "homosexualization." Based on the "autonomy" - emphasizing aspects of the identity synthesis model, it appears that Yarhouse is willing to sanction the referral of certain clients to "therapists" who are willing to facilitate these clients' homosexualization. I do not believe that Christians involved in the care of homosexuals can licitly participate in such referrals.     

The psychoanalytic perspective of adolescent homosexuality: a review

Psychoanalytic theory asserts that adolescent homosexuality is the result of unresolved infantile conflict experienced during the Oedipal and pre-Oedipal periods, in which inadequate object relations and identifications with parents predispose the individual to homosexuality in adolescence. Classical psychoanalytic thought emphasizes the importance of drives and defenses in the formation of homosexuality, while more contemporary approaches understand adolescent homosexuality from a psychosocial and early developmental perspective. In addition to childhood predispositions, the various developmental tasks of adolescence influence the degree and course of homosexuality. This article notes the different types of homosexuality that emerge in adolescence which are influenced by different psychodynamic conditions in each stage of adolescence. Changing developmental roles in relation to individuation, object relations, identification, and identity formation are a few of the factors that contribute to adolescent homosexuality.