408 Documented Cases Where People Changed Sexual Orientation

Discussion in 'Human Science' started by Woody, Dec 3, 2006.

  1. Woody Musical Creationist Registered Senior Member

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    This is perhaps the most comprehensive database of peer-reviewed cases where sexual orientation has changed. I thought the folks here in human sciences would appreciate this rare collation of data. I think the most interesting cases involve "spontaneous reversal" whereby a patient changes sex orientation while being treated for an unrelated problem such as interpersonal anxiety disorder.

    Summary of Evidence Found

    http://www.newdirection.ca/research/evidence.htm

    The studies which were examined provide evidence of change. This section summarizes this evidence by category.

    Acquisition of Heterosexual Behaviour:

    A total of 86 persons who were exclusively or predominantly homosexual, acquired heterosexual behaviour.

    One man who was at least predominantly homosexual (K5) became exclusively heterosexual in behaviour. Almost 20 years of follow-up. See the full summary for Joseph Berger.
    14 men who had been exclusively homosexual became exclusively heterosexual in behaviour. A five-year follow-up was done for seven of these men. See the full summary for Irving Bieber et al.
    18 men who had been exclusively homosexual acquired heterosexual behaviour. No follow-up data was provided. See Lee Birk.
    Six men who were predominantly homosexual became exclusively heterosexual in behaviour. Another 9 men who were predominantly homosexual acquired heterosexual behaviour. An average of 4 years of follow-up. See the full summary for Alejandro Cantón-Dutari.
    One man who was at least predominantly homosexual (K5) became exclusively heterosexual in behaviour and also became attracted to women. No follow-up data was provided. See Jay L. Liss & Amos Welner.
    Ten persons who previously were exclusively or predominantly homosexual, were able to interact sexually in satisfying ways with an opposite-sex partner at the end of treatment. Follow-up data was not divided by category.
    One of these ten was followed up five years later. "R" remained married, now has children, and "both partners describe an effective marriage" (Masters & Johnson, p. 353). This would seem to demonstrate some acquisition of heterosexual attraction as well as acquisition of heterosexual behaviour. See William H. Masters & Virginia E. Johnson.
    Two men who had been exclusively homosexual, and four men who had been mostly homosexual, were said to be "able to derive pleasure and satisfaction in [heterosexual] intercourse most of the time, with only minor difficulties or dissatisfaction." Average follow-up of 4.5 years. See Peter Mayerson & Harold I. Lief.
    Twenty overt homosexuals "developed full heterosexual functioning and were able to develop love feelings for their heterosexual partners" (Socarides, p. 406). Follow-up data was not provided. See Charles W. Socarides.
    One man who was exclusively or predominantly homosexual was able to become involved in long-term heterosexual behaviour. Six year follow-up. See Leon Wallace.

    Partial Sexual Orientation Shift:

    A total of 287 persons who were exclusively or predominantly homosexual, experienced a partial shift in sexual orientation.

    One man who was initially exclusively homosexual became attracted to women, started having heterosexual fantasies, and became sexually active with women. He became predominantly heterosexual. Nine-month follow-up. See the full summary for David H. Barlow and W. Stewart Agras.
    One man who received 14 sessions of covert sensitization changed from predominantly homosexual (K5) to predominantly heterosexual (K1). Four and a half year follow-up. See the full summary for Edward J. Callahan.
    One exclusively homosexual man experienced a partial shift in sexual orientation after udergoing rational psychotherapy. Follow-up based only on two letters received in the three and a half years since the end of therapy. See the full summary for Albert Ellis.
    One predominantly homosexual man was able to "enjoy mature, consistent, satisfactory heterosexual adjustment without significant conflicts" (Hatterer, p.469), but has occasional homosexual fantasies. Three year follow-up. See the full summary for Lawrence J. Hatterer.
    276 homosexual people became heterosexual in more than just their behaviour. Follow-up data was not reported. See Houston MacIntosh.
    One exclusively homosexual woman experienced a partial shift in sexual orientation. Five year follow-up. See William H. Masters & Virginia E. Johnson.
    Five exclusively homosexual men experienced a "reversal of the psychological responsiveness from a predominantly homosexual to a predominantly heterosexual one" (Saghir and Robins, quoted in Pattison & Pattison 1980, p. 1560). This means that while before, their desires, fantasies and attractions were predominantly toward other men, these are now directed toward women. Four year average follow-up. See E. Mansell Pattison & Myrna Loy Pattison.
    One man who was at least predominantly homosexual (K5) became attracted to women, now fantasizes exclusively about women, and has become exclusively heterosexual in behaviour. No follow-up data was provided. See the full summary for Roberta Ann Shechter.

    Full Sexual Orientation Shift:

    A total of 45 persons who were exclusively or predominantly homosexual experienced a full shift of sexual orientation.

    Four men who had been exclusively homosexual became exclusively heterosexual. Follow-up of 18 months. See the full summary for William Freeman & Robert G. Meyer.
    One exclusively homosexual man became exclusively heterosexual, after being treated for severe social phobia. No follow-up data was provided. See the full summary for Daniel H. Golwyn & Carol P. Sevlie.
    Twelve men who were exclusively or predominantly homosexual "progressed to an exclusively heterosexual pattern of adjustment" (Hadden, p. 15). Follow-up data was not reported. See Samuel B. Hadden.
    Four exclusively and two predominantly homosexual men became exclusively heterosexual. Three of these were followed-up 30 years later; for the other three, follow-up data was not reported. See J.A. Hadfield.
    Four exclusively and seven predominantly homosexual men became able to "enjoy mature, consistent, satisfactory heterosexual adjustment without significant conflicts" (p. 469). Average follow-up of 5.8 years. See Lawrence J. Hatterer.
    One man who had been exclusively homosexual became exclusively heterosexual. Follow-up of 3 1/2 years. See William H. Masters & Virginia E. Johnson (from Schwartz & Masters, 1984).
    Three men who were exclusively or predominantly homosexual, are "enjoying heterosexuality" or "satisfying heterosexual relationships." Follow-up data was not reported. See Elizabeth E. Mintz.
    An exclusively homosexual man became exclusively heterosexual. 20 month follow-up. See John S. Poe.
    Five men who had been exclusively homosexual experienced "radical change" and "the restoration of full heterosexuality." Minimum follow-up of 2 years. See Gerard J.M. van den Aardweg.
    One exclusively homosexual man "spontaneously" found himself losing his attraction to men and becoming heterosexual. Minimum follow-up of 18 months. See Joseph Wolpe.
     

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