Reading Flashcards
a) the kind of research that led to the inclusion of homosexuality in the DSM in the first place
The great master of psychoanalysis Freud had a pro view. Yet later psychoanalysts did not follow him.
Psychoanalysts who were “experts” and determined what things should go into DSM-I 1) let personal bias/beliefs about homosexuals as moral sin get in the way. Did not use scientific methods such as double-blind studies to reduce bias. 2) Used extremely biased sample. only studied homosexual patients in psychiatric treatments.
Drew conclusions that support their biases
b) the real reason(s) behind the removal of homosexuality from the DSM-III and the status of sexual orientation in the DSM up until the present version (DSM-5)
Homosexuality as a category was removed in 1974 after empirical evidence/ changing views/ rights movement.
YET sexual orientation disorders stayed in the DSM…
i.e. ego-dystonic homosexuality in DSM-III,(lack of hetero arousal. distress b/c of hetero arousal- tuned down ver. of pathology) Removed but followed by Sexual Disorders Not Otherwise Specified (DSM-III-R- DSM-IV), persistent and marked distress about one’s sexual orientation -
still making it seem biological?
c) What was Evelyn Hooker’s research about, how was her premise/ methodology revolutionary?
Hooker’s study in 1957 about psycho- pathology did three revolutionary things. 1. She put out the question if gay & straight people had different psychological adjustments(illness). 2. Used better sampling- gay men who were functioning well. 3. better methodology/ Blind study- asked experts to rate adjustment without telling the sexual orientation.
Hooker used three projective tests (Rorschach, TAT, MAPS) on 30 gay/straight male.
The two groups were matched for age, IQ, and education.
d) theories on pedophiles/child molesters
Fixation offenders: exclusively interested in children. Fixation means “a temporary or permanent halt of psychological maturation resulting from unresolved formative issues
Regressed offenders: under certain conditions (such as extreme stress) they return to an earlier, less mature psychological state and engage in sexual contact with children.
Fixation-regression distinction into multiple categories, and some include additional categories as well (e.g., Knight, 1989).
e) the history of the status of pedophilia in the DSM
DSM-IV(1990): It’s not a disorder if the person doesn’t feel disturbed/ isn’t dysfunctional even if they had sex with children(normalizing).
DSM-IV-TR(2000) and onwards: changed to the person has disorder if they acted on urges, regardless of how they feel/ function
Were there good research prior to Evelyn Hooker, or even prior to 1974, to show that homosexuality was a pathology?
NO. there were extremely biased studies. but ideologically possessed people made it seem like there were.
What were Hooker’s results?
Two experts on Rorschach and 1 on TAT & MAPS didn’t find significant difference between the two groups.
Hooker concluded saying no evidence of psychopathology.
What’s the problem with general research in paedophilia?
Does research support the connection between homosexuality and paedophilia?
Biased sampling. Not probability sample but convicted sample in prison/therapy.
No. The sexuality of paedophilia is entirely different than normal adult sexuality. Should not be put on same continuum.
Groth and Birnbaum (1978) show that convicted paedophilia had a range of sexuality- mostly hetero, some bi.
Normalizing language in DSM 5 for paedophilia?
Used words such as orientation, interest, and paraphillia
