published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

This study examines how the beliefs of 139 psychologists regarding the causes of male homosexuality influenced how favorably they perceived male clients presenting in therapy with concerns about sexual orientation. The independent variables were the goal the client identified (accept or change his orientation) and the beliefs the psychologist had about the causes of homosexuality (more the result of "nature" or "nurture"). It was hypothesized that a significant interaction would be found between the client's goal from therapy and the psychologists' etiological beliefs, which would influence favorability of client perception. It was further hypothesized that psychologists would perceive a client seeking change would be perceived less favorably than one seeking to accept his orientation. To measure participants' beliefs, the Etiological Beliefs Regarding Male Homosexuality (EBRMH) scale was developed. Positive scores indicate more internal beliefs (nature), whereas negative scores reflect more external beliefs (nurture). Favorability was assessed by combining four ratings participants' made about the client: 1-client's level of pathology, 2-appropriateness of the client's goal for therapy, 3-likelihood the client will achieve his goal, and 4-participants' willingness to provide requested treatment. Data were analyzed using multiple regression, and no demographic variables made a significant contribution to the model. Both independent variables and their interaction were significant, however. The interaction was more closely examined using the Johnson-Neyman technique.The research hypotheses were largely supported. Participants viewing homosexuality as more influenced by internal factors strongly preferred clients seeking to accept their homosexuality over clients wanting to change it. Participants with more external beliefs felt more similarly regarding clients regardless of goal, though most viewed the client wanting to accept his orientation more favorably. A small group of participants (n = 8) with extremely external beliefs reported no difference in how they viewed the client regardless of his goal.The results of the present study challenge some empirically supported beliefs about judgments regarding homosexual clients. Specifically, several factors often considered to influence how favorably a homosexual client is seen (e.g. amount of clinical experience with homosexual clients, being homosexual oneself) had no real influence on favorability ratings. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

The purpose of this study was to apply concepts of virtue and positive psychology to the understanding of well-being in gay and lesbian individuals. Ninety-two self-identified gay and lesbian university students between the ages of 18 and 30 completed an online research survey to assess their well-being and character strengths. Preliminary factor analysis revealed a two-factor virtue structure underlying the 24 character strengths as outlined by the Values In Action (VIA) inventory. Participants were grouped using cluster analysis, and discriminant analysis was then performed to differentiate between group membership based on virtue factors. Results suggest that individuals with high autonomy and low overall well-being score lower in interpersonal strengths than those with balanced well-being. As social support has been identified as a key factor related to well-being for this population, further attention is warranted to study the relationship between autonomy, interpersonal character strengths, and social support in this population. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

This purpose of this study was to validate the concept of homosexual identity formation using psychosocial personality measures and occupational congruence. Of additional interest was personality or occupational congruence differences which may exist between men who choose to enter job fields stereotyped as gay and those who do not choose those fields.

According to Alfred Adler, founder of Individual Psychology, a feeling of inferiority is in some degree common to all people. People who are unable to overcome these inferiority feelings by striving for cooperation may become discouraged. Although there are three scales to measure social interest, no scales measuring discouragement for adults was found. Additionally, Adler held basic assumptions regarding homosexuality, and the findings suggest that the assumptions should be reexamined. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, three University of North Texas candidates developed a discouragement scale for adults 18 years of age and older, known as the Discouragement Scale for Adults (DSA). Discouragement was examined relative to the five life tasks. Second, this candidate normed the instrument for the scores of gay male subjects and compared it to the scores of the other subject groups. Since the emphasis was on developing the instrument and norming it for various subject groups, no hypothesis was developed. Data was collected on three subject groups, known as the general norm subjects, the discouraged subjects, and the gay male subjects. Analyses were performed on the scores. Among the analyses, it was found that gay male subjects were slightly more discouraged than the general norm subjects, and the discouraged subjects were far greater discouraged than the other two subject groups. Initial reliability and validity was found to be high, offering support that the DSA is a reliable and valid instrument. The recommendations for further research include cultural and gender studies, predicting behavior, counseling intervention, and exploring the relationship between discouragement and stressors, such as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

The sexual identity development process in gay men was the focus of this study. It was theorized that, as a result of negative experiences with the dominant heterosexual culture, gay men might feel mistrustful of heterosexuals in various settings. A new theoretical construct, that of heterosexual mistrust, was identified and explored. A new scale, the Heterosexual Mistrust Inventory (HMI), was created to measure this construct. Gay male subjects' stage of homosexual identity formation (HIF) was also determined. Results indicated that heterosexual mistrust existed to a significantly stronger degree among gay men than among heterosexual men. Heterosexual mistrust was strongly related to stage of HIF. The various settings in which heterosexual mistrust was found to occur were discussed. Implications for current knowledge about HIF and about cultural belief systems unique to gay men were identified and explored.

M.A. (Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

There are a number of childhood factors reported to be associated with gay male sexual orientation including childhood gender non-conformity and socialization factors such as paternal and peer rejection. Attachment theory suggests that poor quality childhood relationships may be related to anxiety and avoidance attachment dimensions in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between these childhood factors and anxiety and avoidance in gay men's close relationships. A community sample of 192 self-identified gay men completed questionnaires and a 2 hour attachment interview. No major findings related to the avoidance dimension were significant. In terms of attachment anxiety, results were partially consistent with attachment theory: paternal and peer, but not maternal, rejection independently predicted anxiety. Quality of peer relationships largely mediated the association between parental rejection and anxiety. In addition, quality of peer relationships mediated the association between gender nonconformity and anxiety. Good quality relationships in one domain did not compensate for poor quality relationships in another domain. The importance of fathers and peers to gay men's current relationship functioning is discussed.

M.A. / The present study explores the effect of social positioning, as manifested in relationship, in shaping personal narratives. Four homosexual men shared aspects of their personal narratives, particularly their experiences of self as a consequence of relationship. The narratives unfold in a setting of marginality, in that homosexuality is regarded as an illegitimate identity within the mainstream contexts of these men. One tape-recorded conversation of an hour and a half was held with each of the participants in the study. The conversation was guided by in-depth considerations of marginality, separation, belonging and the consequences of these. The narratives suggest that these men's sense of self is influenced by how they are addressed by others, demonstrating that relationship is the matrix from which people are socially positioned and from which their narratives of self emerge. Suggestions around alternative resources in accounting for the ontological within psychology include regarding relationship, language and social position as influencing what does manifest as a person's inner world. In order to counteract the tyranny of "normality" perpetuated within the social sciences, normality should be reformulated as a socially prescribed template of being. In terms of marginality, this study implies that marginality is a social process which emanates when a person interacts with people removed from his or her social context. It is a discourse which lacks expansion and focuses predominately on separation and belonging and nuances these. The discourse thereby suggests that marginality is not the function of an overtly disempowered identity vis-à-vis the mainstream, but a function of the discourses which emanate from interaction across dissimilar contexts.

There are a number of childhood factors reported to be associated with gay male sexual orientation including childhood gender non-conformity and socialization factors such as paternal and peer rejection. Attachment theory suggests that poor quality childhood relationships may be related to anxiety and avoidance attachment dimensions in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between these childhood factors and anxiety and avoidance in gay men's close relationships. A community sample of 192 self-identified gay men completed questionnaires and a 2 hour attachment interview. No major findings related to the avoidance dimension were significant. In terms of attachment anxiety, results were partially consistent with attachment theory: paternal and peer, but not maternal, rejection independently predicted anxiety. Quality of peer relationships largely mediated the association between parental rejection and anxiety. In addition, quality of peer relationships mediated the association between gender nonconformity and anxiety. Good quality relationships in one domain did not compensate for poor quality relationships in another domain. The importance of fathers and peers to gay men's current relationship functioning is discussed. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate