Sexual Identity

Question 1

Question of whether sexual orientation is

Answer 1

Innate – always existed – people don’t choose it (essentialist point of view or Fluid/change over time – changes as a result of society (constructionists point of view)

Question 2

Models of identity development

Answer 2

Sociological ( coming out process) and Psychological (Examines self awareness, formation of self-image, and personal decisions about identity management)

Question 3

Stages of development has

Answer 3

Has four developmental levels:
Awareness 
Self labeling 
Community involvement and disclosure ( who is like me)
Identity integration

Question 4

Problems with models

Answer 4

does not reflect social realities of today, minimal research, gay men was the focus of research, and population studied was not diverse

Question 5

Definition of Cass’s Model of Homosexual Identity Formation

Answer 5

Identity Formation – the process by which a person comes first to consider and later acquire the identity of “homosexual” as a relevant aspect of self

Question 6

Cass’s Model of Homosexual Identity Formation results

Answer 6

Acquiring a homosexual identity results from the interaction between the individual and their environment

Question 7

Cass’s Model stages of Identity are

Answer 7

Stages are both cognitive and affective
How individuals view (think about) themselves
How individuals feel about their own and others’ perceptions

Question 8

Cass’s Model stages of Identity has

Answer 8

Six stages of perception and behavior moving from minimal awareness and acceptance to integration with other parts of self and Individuals may not go through all stages

Question 9

Stage 1: Identity Confusion ( you are aware)

Answer 9

Awareness of homosexual thoughts, feelings, and attractions
Confusion and anxiety
May react positively by seeking more information which leads to the next stage
May reject what they think/feel which leads to foreclosure

Question 10

Stage 2: Identity Comparison ( try to accept who you are)

Answer 10

Occurs once individuals accept that they might be gay/lesbian
Now confronted with how to manage social alienation
Seek out other gays/lesbians
Maintain a heterosexual public identity and try to “explain” behavior
Attempt to change homosexual behavior
Inhibit homosexual behavior and denigrate homosexual behavior

Question 11

Stage 3: Identity Tolerance

Answer 11

Individuals acknowledge that they are gay/lesbian and seek out others to reduce feelings of isolation
The interactions they have effect how they feel about themselves and their identity
Negative interactions = foreclosure
Positive interactions = movement to stage 4

Stage 3 similar to stage 2

Question 12

Stage 4: Identity Acceptance

Answer 12

A positive connotation exists
Contacts with gays/lesbians is frequent/friendships develop
The norms of the social groups influence how they present themselves
Some may act heterosexual, be out to some, or be public

Question 13

Stage 5: Identity Pride

Answer 13

Individuals focus on gay issues and activities
Contact with heterosexuals is minimal
Pride in gay things/anger at things not gay
Individuals are public and vocally out
If received poorly by others they may foreclose

Question 14

Stage 6: Identity Synthesis ( your identity is apart of you)

Answer 14

Homosexual and heterosexual worlds are less separate
Judgment is based on the person not the identity
Public and private lives are more congruent
Feelings of comfort/security in who they are
Homosexuality is one aspect of life not the entire identity

Question 15

Fassinger’s Model of Gay and Lesbian Identity Development

Answer 15

Two parallel processes

Question 16

Fassinger’s Model of Gay and Lesbian Identity Development

Answer 16

• Individual – internal awareness and acceptance of sexuality
o Awareness – viewing oneself as different from others
o Exploration – examining feelings of attraction for others of the same sex
o Deepening/Commitment – gay/lesbian identity is strengthened and sexuality becomes secure and internalized
o Internalization/Synthesis – sexual identity becomes part of overall identity

Question 17

Fassinger’s Model of Gay and Lesbian Identity Development

Answer 17

• Group membership – what being gay or lesbian means in society and roles in the gay/lesbian community
o Awareness – realize others have different sexual orientations
o Exploration – experimenting with relationship to gay/lesbian community
o Deepening/Commitment – personal commitment to gay/lesbian community, even if there are negative consequences
o Internalization/Synthesis – identify as a minority group across contexts

Question 18

D’Augelli’s Model of Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Development

Answer 18

Three interrelated variables in identity formation:
Personal subjectivities and actions – meanings, perceptions and feelings about sexual identities and behaviors
Interactive intimacies – influence of others and meanings attached to their influence
Sociohistorical connections – social norms, policies, and laws in locations/cultures and their value during different historical periods

Question 19

D’Augelli’s Model of Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Development

Answer 19

o Assumptions:
• multiple changes can occur over time; life-long individualized developmental process
• “Developmental plasticity”- response to environmental and biological changes
• Categorical grouping for predicting developmental similarities: adulthood, unaccepting families, highly homogeneous communities, and certain time periods- the 1950s
• the more one is exposed to others with varying behavior styles, the more choices one has on how to live their life

Question 20

D’Augelli’s Model of Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Development

Answer 20

o Identity Development Process (6 interactive processes):
• Exiting heterosexual identity
• Developing a personal GLB identity status
• What does it mean for me to be GLB?
Not completely internal. Can be done through bouncing ideas off others.
• Developing a GLB social identity
• Becoming a GLB offspring
• Disclosing one’s identity to parents and redefining one’s relationship therefore.
• Developing a GLB intimacy status
• Lack of cultural script for GLB leads to ambiguity and uncertainty
• College years are often a time when individuals establish their 1st meaningful GLB relationships