The Pseudoscience of Conversion Therapy
RaeLynn Barott
Minnesota State University, Mankato
The Pseudoscience of Conversion Therapy Conversion Therapy, or Reparative Therapy, includes therapeutic efforts to change an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression (Jadwin-Cakmak, 2015). These therapeutic efforts are intended to stop an individual from being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) based on the premise that being LGBT is a psychological disorder. Mental health professionals practicing conversion therapy in the past have used techniques including institutionalization, castration, and electroconvulsive shock therapy (National Center Lesbian Rights, 2015). Currently, mental health …show more content…
The American Psychological Association Taskforce on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation reviewed literature on conversion therapy in 2009. They concluded that there has been no methodologically sound research on adults who have participated in conversion therapy that has proven it is effective in changing sexual orientation or gender identity (Jadwin-Cakmak, 2015). Because having a sexual orientation of lesbian, gay, or bisexual is not a mental health disorder, efforts to change one’s sexual orientation are inappropriate. Though Gender Dysphoria, which is the incongruence between one’s physical body and one’s gender identity, is stated in version five of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a mental disorder, there is still no research that shows conversion therapy is effective in changing gender identity (Jadwin-Cakmak, 2015). The leading medical and mental health associations in the U.S. have all rejected conversion therapy not only due to its lack of evidence of it’s effectiveness, but also because of it’s potential risks. The American Psychological Association included in their 2009 report that there are harmful risks in participating in conversion therapy. These include but are not limited to: depression, guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, shame, social withdrawal, suicidality, substance abuse, stress, self-blame, decreased self-esteem, increased self-hatred, feelings of anger and betrayal, problems in sexual and emotional intimacy, sexual dysfunction, and high-risk sexual behaviors (NCLR, 2015). Due to these potential risks, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the National Association for Social Work, and the American Academy
RaeLynn Barott
Minnesota State University, Mankato
The Pseudoscience of Conversion Therapy Conversion Therapy, or Reparative Therapy, includes therapeutic efforts to change an individual’s sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression (Jadwin-Cakmak, 2015). These therapeutic efforts are intended to stop an individual from being lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) based on the premise that being LGBT is a psychological disorder. Mental health professionals practicing conversion therapy in the past have used techniques including institutionalization, castration, and electroconvulsive shock therapy (National Center Lesbian Rights, 2015). Currently, mental health …show more content…
The American Psychological Association Taskforce on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation reviewed literature on conversion therapy in 2009. They concluded that there has been no methodologically sound research on adults who have participated in conversion therapy that has proven it is effective in changing sexual orientation or gender identity (Jadwin-Cakmak, 2015). Because having a sexual orientation of lesbian, gay, or bisexual is not a mental health disorder, efforts to change one’s sexual orientation are inappropriate. Though Gender Dysphoria, which is the incongruence between one’s physical body and one’s gender identity, is stated in version five of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a mental disorder, there is still no research that shows conversion therapy is effective in changing gender identity (Jadwin-Cakmak, 2015). The leading medical and mental health associations in the U.S. have all rejected conversion therapy not only due to its lack of evidence of it’s effectiveness, but also because of it’s potential risks. The American Psychological Association included in their 2009 report that there are harmful risks in participating in conversion therapy. These include but are not limited to: depression, guilt, helplessness, hopelessness, shame, social withdrawal, suicidality, substance abuse, stress, self-blame, decreased self-esteem, increased self-hatred, feelings of anger and betrayal, problems in sexual and emotional intimacy, sexual dysfunction, and high-risk sexual behaviors (NCLR, 2015). Due to these potential risks, the American Psychological Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the National Association for Social Work, and the American Academy