Being Homosexual: Gay Men and Their Development"Over the course of twenty years of working with gay men in analysis and therapy, Richard Isay has become convinced that homosexuality is not a mental illness; it is not deviant behavior, as many in our society continue to believe. In fact, homosexuality is found throughout history in every race, class and culture. Yet generations of gay men who have sought help in psychoanalytic therapy have faced efforts to change the natural object of their deepest desire--efforts which cause serious harm. Though trained in traditional psychoanalytic theory, Isay has come to a radically different way of working with gay men. He has determined that there is a natural developmental path that homosexuals follow which, as with homosexuals, is fraught with predictable obstacles and crises. Clearing away the tangle of myths about homosexual behavior and its origins, Dr. Isay lays out that path. He also explores the nature of impediments to sustained and loving gay relationships, analyzing two of the most crippling: paternal rejection and the internalization of Western society's extreme homophobia. Until there is social and legal change to support the expression of love and commitment between homosexuals, early psychological intervention may help homosexual children build healthy self-esteem in the face of social stigmatization. Recently, AIDS has aggravated that stigmatization, and Being Homosexual examines the profound impact that it has had on gay men's development. For therapists, this is a book that offers concrete guidance in working with homosexual men more effectively and with greater understanding. For gay men themselves, this is a clear and empathetic account of their development and the conflicts and barriers they face"--Page 2 of dust jacket. |
Contents
Introduction | 3 |
What Is Homosexuality? | 11 |
Childhood and Early Homosexual Identity | 23 |
Copyright | |
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accept acknowledge adult aggressive AIDS epidemic Alan Alfred Kinsey American Psychoanalytic Association anal sex analyst anxiety attracted became believe Benjamin Bieber bisexual caused Chapter Charles Socarides child childhood clinical competitive conflict depression developmental difficulty disease early erotic emotional emotionally erosexual erotic attachment erotic feelings evoked expression father fellatio felt feminine Frederick Lane frequent Freud gay adolescents gay man's gay men gay relationships gender gratifying homo homoerotic fantasies homophobia homosexual adolescents homosexual behavior homosexual boys homosexual fantasies human sexuality identification impulses increasingly inhibited interest internalized homophobia intimacy Journal of Homosexuality Kinsey less lives lover low self-esteem Male Homosexuality marriage married masculine mother parents partner peers perceived perception pleasure psychotherapy rage rejection relations Richard Friedman role same-sex self-esteem sexual activity sexual behavior sexual contact sexual encounters sexual experiences sexual fantasies sexual feelings sexual orientation social society therapeutic therapist therapy treatment uality unconscious usually wish women York young