Abstract

ARDILA, Rubén. Affirmative Therapy for Male Homosexuals and Lesbians. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2007, vol.36, n.1, pp.67-77. ISSN 0034-7450.

Introduction: Homosexuality has been considered as a normal and accepted behavior in some cultures, as a crime in others, as a mental disease until recent times in our Judeo-Christian society, and as a life style or life option at the present time. Objective: An analysis of homosexual behavior is presented from a scientific perspective. Results: The possible causes of homosexual orientation are presented including the psychoanalytic theory, the explanation based on learning theory, and the genetic theory. Traditional therapeutic approaches for homosexuality were based on psychoanalysis or on learning theory (behavior therapy). Present-day clinical psychologists and psychiatrists use an approach called "affirmative therapy for male homosexuals and lesbians". In this approach homosexuality is considered a valid life option and not a mental disease, therefore no attempt should be made to change it. Factors taken into consideration include social context, family, life cycle, self-acceptance and identification, problems related to having a stable homosexual partner and so on. Affirmative therapy is considered as a treatment of choice for both male and female homosexuals.

Keywords : Sexual orientation; psychotherapy; affirmative therapy.

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