Sexual Orientation And Homophobia Are Formed Early In Life, Book By Leading Psychoanalysts Argues
New York, N.Y., July 11, 2002 – In a groundbreaking new book, two leading New York psychoanalysts tackle the problem of homophobia by identifying the developmental roots of sexual orientation and homophobia and by exploring the relationships and cultures of boys and girls that lead to homophobia.
They also argue that by understanding the peer cultures that boys and girls develop as children, eventually society may be able to fundamentally change its views of masculinity and femininity. The psychology of lesbians may be best understood as part of the behavior of women, and the psychology of gay men may be best understood as a dimension of the behavior of men.
Citing psychoanalytic theories and biological studies, Drs. Jennifer I. Downey, clinical professor of psychiatry at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, and Dr. Richard C. Friedman, clinical professor of psychiatry at Weill Medical College, Cornell University, wrote “Sexual Orientation and Psychoanalysis”, to help therapists better understand the psychological development of homosexual and heterosexual patients. They also hope their findings will help treat those who have internalized homophobia and therefore may engage in high-risk sexual and other self-destructive behaviors.
In the book, Drs. Downey and Friedman show that homophobia tends to develop in mid- (ages 5 to 7) and late (ages 8 to 12) childhood and has different manifestations in boys and girls. By identifying when homophobia begins and how peer cultures differ between boys and girls, the authors aim to help clinicians highlight those times of early life that are key in shaping children’s overall ideas of masculinity and femininity.
“Boys and girls develop very different peer relationships and cultures,” says Dr. Downey. “During late childhood, boys tend to play with boys, and they also tend to be less tolerant than girls of what we call ‘gender non-conformity.’ So boys might label certain boys ‘fags,’ ‘sissies,’ or ‘homos,’ which can traumatize the boys being labeled, who may or may not be on a gay track. Therefore, boys and men may have more of a tendency to internalize homophobic feelings and channel these negative emotions into risky, self-destructive, or even suicidal behavior.”
“On the other hand, girls are more tolerant of gender-atypical behavior and are less likely to be bullied if they are on a gay track,” says Dr. Friedman. “Lesbians may be less prone to internalizing homophobia.”
Though the book is geared to a professional audience, educators and parents also may be able to use the information it provides to help children develop a healthy sense of their own sexuality and a positive, non-judgmental view of the sexuality of others. The authors suggest that books, art, music, television, and theater that deal with homosexuality and sexuality in an open and accepting way be presented to children at about the fifth and sixth grades to encourage them to form healthy ideas about masculinity and femininity and tolerance.
In the book, Drs. Downey and Friedman – both psychoanalysts – part with Sigmund Freud on key issues. They disagree that penis envy and castration anxiety are the “biological bedrock” of motivation, as Freud believed. They criticize Freud's theory of the universality of the Oedipus complex. In fact, they point out that aggressive and competitive feelings toward the parent of the same sex usually are not triggered by sexual desires for the parent of the opposite sex. Particularly in boys, competition with other males has its roots in evolutionary biology and endocrinology, resulting from the effects of testosterone on the brain before birth. Freud also thought that difficulties with the Oedipus complex caused mental disorders. Today we know this is not so, and Drs. Friedman and Downey explore the role of genetic and hormonal influence on behavior.
The authors also criticize the prolonged commitment of psychoanalysis to the model that labeled homosexuality as pathology, or disease. The authors note many of the weaknesses in Freud’s theories come from his lack of access to concrete scientific studies – most of which were conducted after his death. Drs. Downey and Friedman point out, however, that Freud’s emphasis on unconscious motivation in all people – regardless of sexual orientation – was prescient and remains useful. But modern scholarship and research have shown that unconscious motivation is not related to sexual development in the way that Freud thought. In criticizing Freud’s ideas about human sexuality, while retaining his notion that unconscious motivation is important in all people, the authors place psychoanalysis on a modern foundation.
“Sexual Orientation and Psychoanalysis” demonstrates why a modern psychoanalytically informed model of the personality that integrates both science and psychoanalysis is crucial for understanding sexual orientation and gender differences in sexuality. The authors’ perspective on child development sheds light on the origins of homophobia and the painful consequences of trauma endured by victims of such discrimination.
"This book holds particular interest for anyone concerned with or responsible for the care of children,” says Dr. Judith Schachter, former president of the American Psychoanalytic Association. “Discussion of the different developmental tracks of boys and girls focuses on implications for the development of homophobia in each sex and thus makes an important addition to our understanding of the middle school and subsequent years."
About the authors
Dr. Friedman and Dr. Downey co-teach a popular course for psychiatric residents in human sexuality at the New York State Psychiatric Institute at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. Their articles on sexuality and sexual orientation have appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, and other widely read peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Friedman also wrote the influential “Male Homosexuality: A Contemporary Psychoanalytic Perspective” (1988), which focused exclusively on men.