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Cited by 166LGBTQ Health, Identity, and PolicyAcademic and Historical Perspectives in PsychologyGender and Feminist Studies

Sexual orientation differences as deficits: Science and stigma in the history of American psychology

Herek, Gregory M.·2010·Perspectives on Psychological Science
DOI 10.1177/1745691610388770
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Abstract

This article briefly describes how psychology, psychiatry, and the mental health professions (here collectively referred to as Psychology) treated sexual orientation differences as deficits for much of the 20th century, as well as some of the negative consequences that practice had for sexual minorities. The 1970s witnessed a remarkable turnaround when the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and the American Psychological Association called for psychologists to work to remove the stigma historically associated with homosexuality. This history illustrates not only how cultural institutions play a central role in legitimating stigma, but also how they can recognize their own complicity in this process and work effectively to undo its harmful effects. It is argued that Psychology still has an important role to play in challenging the differences-as-deficits model in contemporary policy debates.

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Crossref · 10.1177/1745691610388770

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57 of 57 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Authors
Herek, G. M.
Affiliations
University of California, Davis (US)
Corresponding author
Herek, Gregory M.
Venue
Perspectives on Psychological Science
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Published
2010-11
Volume
5
Issue
6
Pages
693-699
ISSN
  • 1745-6916 (ISSN-L)
  • 1745-6924
DOI
10.1177/1745691610388770
OpenAlex
W2321722844
Cited by
166
References
57
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 8 · 2024: 9 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 17 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 17 · 2014: 11 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 12
FWCI
0.85
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
Locations
  • Perspectives on Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › General Psychology › Academic and Historical Perspectives in Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender and Feminist Studies
Keywords
sexual orientation, homosexuality, stigma, deficit model, history of psychology, mental health professions, American Psychiatric Association, American Psychological Association, DSM, gay rights, sexual minorities, institutional complicity, 20th century

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