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Sexual Orientation Differences as Deficits: Science and Stigma in the History of American Psychology
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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“Historically, homosexuality and transgender experiences have been pathologized in the mental health professions, accompanied with the use of harmful techniques (e.g., castration, electroconvulsive shock therapy, lobotomies, and psychiatric institutionalization) to “treat” or “cure” LGBTQ people [68,69].”
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Metadata
- 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
- 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
- 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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