Psychiatrist retracts infamous study claiming gay people can turn straight through therapy

[MindMover]

Last edited Thu Apr 12, 2012, 01:58 AM - Edit history (5)

Source: NY Daily News

The psychiatrist behind a prominent 2001 study declaring people can go from gay to straight has retracted his original claims.

Although the research is still cited by anti-gay organizations as proof that so-called ex-gay therapy works to change someone's sexual orientation, the study has endured scientific criticism for years.

Now, Robert Spitzer, who led the research, told American Prospect that he wants to publish a retraction.

In retrospect, I have to admit I think the critiques are largely correct, Spitzer said. The findings can be considered evidence for what those who have undergone ex-gay therapy say about it, but nothing more.

Spitzer's confession was part of writer Gabriel Arana's account of growing up gay, and struggling to change his sexual orientation by undergoing therapy.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/psychiatrist-retracts-infamous-study-claiming-gay-people-turn-straight-therapy-article-1.1060226

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Sexual orientation is not a choice. And if I have to say anything more, you are not paying enough attention to the
first sentence <----

http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/sexual-orientation.aspx

[Mendocino]

1. So is Marcus Bachmann

now out of work?

[Kalidurga]

2. Sadly probably not..

I thought this was retracted years ago. I guess having other researchers say it is junk science, was enough evidence for me.

[Javaman]

5. and out of the closet? nt

[ChairmanAgnostic]

11. sadly probably not.

[libodem]

14. (snicker)

He does seem like a fairy nice fellow, if he wasn't such a fraud. I feel sorry for his clients who hoped it would work and were let down because of his practice of quackery.

Everyone should get the money back and have free therapy for self love and acceptance. They are perfectly fine just the way they are. The world is just meaner and more ignorant towards them than most of the rest of us in our struggle with this life. Shoot the bird at this effed stupid world.

Glad the man denounced this fake crock of psudoscience, phony, fabrication of the practice of real psychotherapy.

Use your religion and get out of psychology as you don't really believe in it anyway. Huckster bastards.

[Roy Rolling]

6. Not out of work...

He has just re-tooled the factory. Instead of counseling the gay out of his clients he now will be making closets, if you know what I mean.

[PoliticAverse]

3. I'm shocked, shocked that a study in the psychiatric field had an invalid conclusion. n/t

[greiner3]

4. "shocked that a study in the psychiatric field had an invalid conclusion."

Being a scientific field, psychiatry is inexact. However, your insinuation that it is a pseudo-science is wrong and insulting to this field and science in general. Maybe you have a bone to pick but a blanket statement such as this does not belong in a DU post.

Sorry to break it to you like this, especially when I may have a post blocked.

[cbayer]

10. I completely agree with you. Thanks for saying it so well.

[PoliticAverse]

13. If your point is that psychiatry is an 'inexact science', I would certainly agree.

What 'blanket statement' did I make ?

If you feel I've insulted a profession which had homosexuality listed as a 'mental disorder' until 1974
by not being shocked a study in the profession had a bogus conclusion I can live with that.

[AlbertCat]

7. The Heterosexual Questionnaire

TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2009

The Heterosexual Questionnaire was created back in 1972 to put heterosexual people in the shoes of a gay person for just a moment. Questions and assumptions made of Gays and Lesbians that are unfair, are reversed and this time asked to the straight people.

This is a fun survey, but also an activist survey. Please repost this to your email list, myspace bulletin, use it in a group setting, have fun with it but also let the point be made.

1. What do you think caused your heterosexuality?

2. When and where did you decide you were a heterosexual?

3. Is it possible this is just a phase and you will out grow it?

4. Is it possible that your sexual orientation has stemmed from a neurotic fear of others of the same sex?

5. Do your parents know you are straight? Do your friends know- how did they react?

6. If you have never slept with a person of the same sex, is it just possible that all you need is a good gay lover?

7. Why do you insist on flaunting your heterosexuality... can’t you just be who you are and keep it quiet?

8. Why do heterosexuals place so much emphasis on sex?

9. Why do heterosexuals try to recruit others into this lifestyle?

10. A disproportionate majority of child molesters are heterosexual... Do you consider it safe to expose children to heterosexual teachers?

11. Just what do men and women do in bed together? How can they truly know how to please each other, being so anatomically different?

12. With all the societal support marriage receives, the divorce rate is spiraling. Why are there so few stable relationships among heterosexuals?

13. How can you become a whole person if you limit yourself to compulsive, exclusive heterosexuality?

14. Considering the menace of overpopulation how could the human race survive if everyone were heterosexual?

15. Could you trust a heterosexual therapist to be objective? Don't you feel that he or she might be inclined to influence you in the direction of his orher leanings?

16. There seem to very few happy heterosexuals. Techniques have been developed that might enable you to change if you really want to.

17. Have you considered trying aversion therapy?

- Martin Rochlin, Ph.D., 1972

[MrBig]

8. Unfortunately, this probably is irrelevant

Last edited Thu Apr 12, 2012, 04:15 PM - Edit history (2)

Regardless of what science says, people will continue to believe that homosexuality can be "cured". The more fundamentalist you go, the more likely that these "therapeutic" techniques will be attempted.

It's sad, but the damage here has already been done. No retraction will matter as it will only be seen as the psychiatrist being corrupted by the "gay agenda" or whatever term they're using now-a-days.

Edit: Fix Spelling Error

[ChairmanAgnostic]

12. not to mention abusing youths and teens who

are attacked by family and friends for "being different."

[cbayer]

9. Good for him.