| Perhaps the most impressive data on reorientation emerged
from Masters and Johnson. They made a clear distinction between those who
were bisexual and those who were strongly (Kinsey 5-6) homosexual. Their
two year outcome data (after therapy) clearly suggest that the bisexuals
have much more success with reorientation but both groups have some limited
success--though the initial success rates always are diminished after a
few years of followup. Masters and Johnson did not view same sex attraction
as deviant and they only undertook these efforts at the urgent request
of individuals who wished to change. The therapy was intense and short
term, occurring within two weeks and it would have been simply impossible
for single Mormons since the client had to bring with him to the institute
an opposite sex individual who was willing to engage in sexual activity
with the client during the course of the therapy. The Masters and Johnson
work focused on the capacity that most all humans have to be aroused by
sexual activities which involve both genders, particularly in an environment
which is nurturing, loving and sufficiently erotic. Kinsey was aware of
this same phenomenum in the significant amount of bisexual activity which
he observed in his sex surveysof the 1940s--1960s. Heterosexual males,
particularly, can become quite sexually active in same-sex activities in
a prison population, but they revert to heterosexuality when the constraints
of prison are removed. Kinsey said about sexuality that one could expect
primates to respond erotically to any sufficient stimulus. Deprivation
of ones most favored sexual objects can, therefore, cause primates to respond
erotically to other possible partners as libido continues to whet ones
unsatisfied appetite for sexual activity.
Our society seems unwilling to allow unmarried persons to practice their sexuality in Masters and Johnson style, with willing partners, in an atmosphere that teaches the rudiments of successful nurturing sensuality and sexual activity. If that were possible it seems likely that many more heterosexuals could learn to enjoy same sex activity and same sex individuals would also learn to function in the context of heterosexuality. Even so it seems unlikey that these changes would ever alter our most favored sexual patterns which seem to emerge in pre-teen and teen years and are reasonably resistent to change. Considering the goals of reparative therapy might cause parents and
all individuals to consider the possibility of changing those favored patterns
of sexual play that all of us seem to have developed Jack Morin has written
a most intriguing book on sexuality called The Erotic MInd. It is his thesis
that all of us emerge into our sexually active years with what he calls
a "core erotic theme" which defines our most favored ways to be sexual.
He has found in his therapy and research that the "core erotic theme" is
highly persistent and is resistant to change. He finds one's core theme
is often only dimly understood and recognized and that many sexual difficulties
in marriage and within individuals ensue because two partners do not match
in their themes. Even if two have exactly the same theme this may not be
ideal since they may both want something sexually that the other partner
is not prepared or able to give. If we understand sexuality in these terms
it helps us understand some of our own difficulties in sexuality with our
partners and it certainly helps us understand that those whose "core erotic
theme" involves the same sex, may find it difficult to make adjustments
in that way.
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