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Summary: Is change in sexual orientation possible?
Is the attempt intrinsically harmful? Stanton L. Jones’ (Wheaton College) and
Mark A. Yarhouse’s (Regent University) paper, “Ex-Gays?: An Extended
Longitudinal Study of Attempted Religiously Mediated Change in Sexual
Orientation” will be presented as part of the symposium “Sexual Orientation
and Faith Tradition—A Test of the Leona Tyler Principle,” chaired by
Dr. A. Dean Byrd. Two former APA Presidents, Dr. Nicholas Cummings and Dr.
Frank Farley, will discuss the paper and its implications. The symposium will
be presented at the Annual Convention of the American Psychological
Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at the Metro Toronto Convention
Centre, Meeting Room 202D; Sunday, August 9, 2009, from 8:00 am – 9:50
am. The paper will be available at after 9:00 am central on Sunday, August 9, 2009. |
Groundbreaking Research On Sexual Orientation Change to be
Presented at APA Convention Contact | Heather Mascarello
| 630.430.1526 (cell)| hmascarello@ivpress.com Toronto, Canada -- A chorus of voices in
the professional world today proclaims that it is impossible to change sexual
orientation, particularly homosexual orientation, and that the attempt to
change sexual orientation is harmful. A supposed consensus of science is
invoked in support of such claims.
For example,
for many years the Public Affairs website of the American Psychological Association stated: “Can therapy
change sexual orientation? No. . . . [H]omosexuality . . . does not require treatment and is not
changeable.” [i] Psychologists Stanton L. Jones and Mark A. Yarhouse will announce on
August 9, 2009 at the annual
convention of the American Psychological Association the newest results
from their groundbreaking longitudinal study of a sample of men and women
seeking religiously mediated sexual orientation change through involvement in
a variety of Christian ministries affiliated with Exodus International,
results that challenge the supposed consensus. The presence of two former
presidents of the APA, Dr. Nicholas Cummings and Dr. Frank Farley, to discuss
these findings underscores the significance of the study. This study meets high standards of empirical rigor. In other studies,
in the words of the APA,
“treatment
outcome is not followed and reported over time as would be the standard to
test the validity of any mental health intervention.”[ii] Prior research has been criticized
for · Failing to follow subjects over
time (i.e., not longitudinal) · Relying on memory rather than
following change as it occurs (i.e., not prospective) · Relying on therapist ratings rather
than hearing directly from those seeking change · Using idiosyncratic and
unvalidated measures of sexual orientation The Jones and
Yarhouse study was designed to meet these empirical standards. The study is a
rigorous, prospective and
longitudinal quasi-experimental study of a respectably large and arguably
representative sample of those seeking to undergo change in sexual
orientation via religiously mediated means through Exodus ministries groups. In essence, this study assessed the sexual orientations and
psychological distress levels of 98 individuals seeking sexual orientation
change early in the change process, and then followed them longitudinally
with multiple assessments, using standardized, respected measures of sexual
orientation and of emotional distress to test the study’s hypotheses. Jones and Yarhouse
reported previously on the three year outcomes of the study.[iii]
That prior study found, at the three year mark, that roughly one-third of
those still in the study considered their outcomes a success, and roughly
half of those reporting success experienced success in the form of successful
“conversion” to heterosexual orientation and functioning, while the other
half of the successes reported behavioral chastity and dis-identification
with homosexual orientation.
Another one third of the study’s subjects at three years had
experienced some change and was continuing in the change process, while the
remaining third had either returned to a full embrace of gay identity or had
simply given up on change. In terms of the statistical significance of
change and the magnitude of the effect sizes of these changes, the changes
reported are not unlike the kind of results produced by psychotherapy
interventions with the harder-to-change human conditions. There was no
evidence on average that involvement in the change process was harmful. This new report
extends the findings out to between six and seven years for the subjects in
the study. The specifics of
those findings will be revealed August 9, and will continue to challenge
professional opinions that change is impossible and the attempt harmful. The findings will directly contradict the
commonly expressed views of the mental health establishment that change of
sexual orientation is impossible and that the attempt to change is highly
likely to produce harm for those who make such an effort. In their 2007 book, Ex-Gays?
(IVP), Jones and Yarhouse discussed the implications of the findings of this
study. Most importantly, the study suggests that since change seems possible
for some, then all should respect the integrity and autonomy of persons
seeking to change their sexual orientation for moral, religious, or other
reasons, just as we respect those who for similar reasons desire to affirm
and embrace their sexual orientation. This requires that space be created in
religious and professional circles for individuals to seek sexual orientation
change with full information about their options and the potential risks of
such attempts. We would do well to put as much information as possible in the
hands of the consumer so that they are able to make informed decisions and
wise choices among treatment options. This study does not prove that everyone or anyone can change, but
rather that some can. Please go to ivpress.com/media after 9:00 am on
August 9, 2009 to read the Jones and Yarhouse paper. Founded in 1947 as an extension
of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, InterVarsity Press serves those in the university, the church and
the world by publishing thoughtful Christian books that equip and encourage
people to follow Jesus as Savior and Lord in all of life. -END- |
