Wednesday, August 22, 2007
(Weekly Column)Last week, I wrote about Warren "Dr. Blog" Throckmorton an unlicensed psychologist from a small Christian school in Pennsylvania. He has written no books, produced no noteworthy studies and his main claim to fame is his online diary, where he kvetches about real researchers who have actually stepped foot in the lab.
On August 17, at the American Psychological Association's annual meeting in San Francisco, Dr. Blog unveiled his new creation, "Sexual Identity Therapy." In this bizarre paradigm, sexual attractions no longer matter. According to SIT, a man could lust after shirtless dudes in hot pants and have no attraction to women, but could still identify as "straight." We used to call this denial, but a few acquisitive quacks have figured out there is money to be made off conflicted clients by reassuring them that denial is healthy, if it keeps them holy.
The theory behind SIT is that sexuality is a "construct" that can be altered and aligned with religious beliefs. Of course, there is no evidence to support this view, while there are countless examples that such repression can be harmful. In Throckmorton's presentation he called this surreal process "synthesized sexual identity." Yeah, this sounds about as natural as plastic or polyester, doesn't it?
As irrational and incoherent as Throckmorton's theories are, he has joined a coalition of right wing activist organizations to try to force the APA into endorsing such quackery. It is doubtful that they will get their way, but the real goal is to bash the APA, hoping to diminish the group's authority.
In yet another effort to push this insidious political agenda, Ex-Gay Watch reported that later this year ex-gay organizations would unveil a new study by Dr. Stanton Jones, Provost of Wheaton College. According to Ex-Gay Watch, the report, known by anti-gay activists as "The Thomas Project," is a 5-year study of Exodus Ministries and likely consists of questions asked once a year by telephone. There are also unconfirmed reports that the study has a sample of as few as 100 to 150 participants. This is surprising considering Exodus claims to represent "hundreds of thousands" of ex-gays.
Adding to the study's disreputability are Dr. Jones' ultra-conservative colleagues. He has worked with Dr. Mark Yarhouse, a professor at Pat Robertson University, also known as "Regent," and is the co-author of the SIT therapy guidelines with Throckmorton. Is it just me, or does it seem like there is a political agenda here?
The truth is, any new studies that do not include physical components that measure the veracity of ex-gay testimonials are obsolete, invalid and essentially useless. This is true of both the pro-gay and anti-gay sides of the issue. The new mantra must be: "if you can't measure it, the results are meaningless." Let's leave the heartfelt and tear inducing testimonials for Oprah and Sally. I want statistics, not sappy sentiment with my science.
These days, there is absolutely no excuse not to use physical measures in such studies. There are three modern tests that can help confirm the validity of fanciful ex-gay fairytales.
The first one analyzes "microexpressions," where experts can see involuntary facial movements and judge whether a person is lying. In such a test, so-called ex-gay subjects would have their fables filmed. The medical experts would slow down the tapes and decide if the subjects were telling the truth. One researcher, Dr. John Gottman, Ph.D., claims the method is so successful that he can predict with 90% percent accuracy which newlywed couples will remain married.
The second method is the penile plethysmograph, a devise that measures sexual stimulation. A University of Georgia psychologist used this contraption in 1996 to show that men who were the most homophobic demonstrated significant sexual arousal to male erotic stimuli.
The third test is the "No Lie MRI", which according to a recent article in The New Yorker magazine:
The "No Lie MRI" makes a series of scans that show changes in the flow of oxygenated blood preceding neural events. The brain needs oxygen to perform mental tasks so a rise in the level of oxygenated blood in one part of the brain can indicate cognitive activity there. Brain scan lie detection is predicated on the idea that lying requires more cognitive effort, and therefore more oxygenated blood than truth telling.
"Once you jump behind the skull, there is no hiding," Joel Huizenga, founder of the company 'No Lie MRI' told The New Yorker.
It seems that ex-gays would rather mislead and practice skulduggery than get behind the skull. But if Jesus can help one go straight, certainly he can help one pass the No Lie MRI. Isn't it time for ex-gays to shut me up once and for all by putting their tales to the test?
31 Comments:
The current official list of mental disorders, known as the "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV, 2000 text revision (DSM-IV-TR 2000)," still includes two categories that can be used by psychiatrists to bill insurance companies for sexual orientation conversion therapy.
The first one that refers to sexual orientation applies to any patient, whether they are homosexual, heterosexual, or just homophobic, who has a "persistent and marked distress about sexual orientation," which is "not otherwise specified" in the manual as a "sexual disorder." (See p. 582 of the current DSM-IV-TR 2000)
The second one is the "identity problem," which is defined as "uncertainty about multiple issues relating to identity such as long-term goals, career choices, friendship patterns, sexual orientation and behavior, moral values, and group loyalties" that are not considered to be a mental disorder. (See p. 741, DSM-IV-TR 2000) Significantly, "sexual orientation" is hard to find in the DSM because it is not included in the index.
"Sexual Identity Therapy" appears to be an extension of the above and an idea that has been pitched by Dr. Robert Spitzer ever since 1973 when the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the list of mental disorders. (See Robert L. Spitzer, "A Proposal About Homosexuality and the APA Nomenclature: Homosexuality as an Irregular From of Sexual Behavior and Sexual Orientation Disturbance as a Psychiatric Disorder," American Journal of Psychiatry 130:11, November 1973, pp. 1215-1216)
posted by Thomas Kraemer, at
8/22/2007 6:51 PM
"Is it just me, or does it seem like there is a political agenda here?"
It's just you being paranoid, I'm afraid. ;)
posted by lith, at
8/23/2007 5:28 AM
Pat Robertson is the charlatan who claimed he changed the course of a hurricane with his prayers. I wouldnt even trust anyone affiliated with that school to take my dogs for a walk.
posted by , at
8/23/2007 12:34 PM
If lying requires more oxygenated blood to the brain, Wayne you are a good candidate for a stroke.
posted by , at
8/23/2007 12:55 PM
Shouldn't these christianists be concentrating their "research" on proving that their particular "religious" belief is so innate that everyone must be forced to adhere to it?
Or at the very least, it seems they should attempt to explain why other characteristics must be altered in order to adhere to their chosen interpretation of politically correct "faith."
posted by , at
8/23/2007 1:10 PM
Anonymous 12:55 just claimed I lied - without proof, of course. That is how these dishonest right wing kooks operate. They use innuendo and smear because they have nothing smart to say - and have no facts on their side. The only tactic they have is to repeat distortions often enough so some people are fooled.
And they call themselves Christians...
posted by Wayne Besen, at
8/23/2007 3:11 PM
posted by , at
8/23/2007 7:02 PM
Anonymous is an asshole. Plain and simple. Sissy won't even post his name. Typical right wing loser hack.
Jalen G.
posted by , at
8/23/2007 7:03 PM
Why do these "christians" insist on using junk science to justify themselves? Why can't they just stick to their bible? Let their god and their god-man savior produce the miracles for them. Doesn't that trump science, anyway? Then they could waste resources some other way, rather than trying to convince the scientific community that going straight is so damn easy for gays.
posted by Emily K, at
8/23/2007 11:31 PM
Hey Jalen H, maybe you should write for Crosstar.
posted by Emily K, at
8/23/2007 11:38 PM
Like most fundamentalist apologists, Jalen H. picks and chooses verses from the New Yorker, like he/she does from the Bible. How typical.
There is much in this article to support the No Lie MRI. And, no thinking person would dispute that the technology, while not flawless (what is), is incontrovertibly superior than Exodus supplied testimonies on the phone.
The thought that Exodus should say "trust our word" is comic relief at best. At worst, it is a sickening scam to rip off vulnerable people and pick their pockets with false promises of "change. But, maybe that is what Jalen H wants.
Finally, before Exodus shatters lives, they ask the question, 'what harm will it do to try to change?' I ask the same question, 'what harm will it do to try the No Lie MRI?'
Of course, Alan Chambers, nor Randy Thomas has responded to my request for the No Lie MRI - because they value their paychecks more than peoples' lives. They are afraid to put their phony, absurd tales to the test. (yes, absurd, Alan's tale of how he and his wife didn't know how their parts worked for honeymoon sex is patronizingly pathetic)Chambers and Thomas would never pass the test. I guarantee it. I dare them to take the test - today.
Indeed, from now on any so-called "ex-gay" therapist should be No Lie MRI certified. In light of the many spectacular scandals and scoundrels that have lied to our faces in the past - this is the only way for a client to ensure that he or she is not getting bilked.In my view, ex-gay ministries are consumer fraud disguised as religion.
Time to put up or shut up with faux tales of change.
posted by Wayne Besen, at
8/24/2007 12:30 AM
Jalen H,
One commentor or EGW spoke against the "No Lie MRI" and mostly on the basis of it's cost, availability, and newness. No one said it was a dumb idea.
posted by jekelhyde, at
8/24/2007 2:18 PM
By the hysterical reaction of Jalen H., it is clear I am on to something. Ex-gays just don't want to introduce psychical measures to challenge their lies.
As far as the cost, if Alan Chambers or Randy Thomas have the courage to take the test, I would consider funding it. What are they afraid of?
posted by Wayne Besen, at
8/24/2007 2:38 PM
alan will just says he's still a queer living as a straight. no lies there!
posted by , at
8/24/2007 2:47 PM
As someone said elsewhere online, in the "ex-gay" context: The best way to counter charges of lack of scientific evidence - is to produce scientific evidence!
posted by , at
8/24/2007 2:54 PM
Wow, such hostility towards Wayne, and all because he wants the transparent claims of the "ex-gay" to be placed under scrutiny? The religious kooks on this board become most tellingly angry when the "God changed me" bullshit just doesn't cut it. Sorry, if you want us to believe that this "ex-gay" charade is anything but, we need more proof than "Praise the Lord".
posted by , at
8/24/2007 4:45 PM
It all comes down to: Show me the scientific, peer-reviewed proof that gays can change.
Otherwise, it's just Fundie Christian bullshit.
posted by Emily K, at
8/24/2007 9:36 PM
Jalen and anonymous should come out of their trailer closets and join the rainbow parade.
posted by , at
8/24/2007 10:29 PM
Aunty Em K, science??? Remember, these are the same pathetic losers who think humans and dinosaurs were on the earth at the same time (a few thousand years ago) and even have a 'creationist museum' with dinosaurs wearing saddles! (presumably they've seen too many Flintstones cartoons.)
It would be funny if it werent so pathetic and dangerous to the future progress of this country.
posted by , at
8/24/2007 10:41 PM
I wonder how much these people are getting paid to troll this site and draw attention away from the facts.
posted by jekelhyde, at
8/25/2007 12:30 AM
Let these frauds take the test. Ex-gay ministries are just an employment program for pathological liars who don't want to get real jobs.
Keep at these fakes, Wayne!! :)
Joan from TULSA
posted by , at
8/25/2007 11:08 AM
After seeing the movie "Jesus Camp", I understand the sad plight of these religious kooks much better. These people are recruited and brainwashed, as impressionable four or five year old children, into a religious system that no rational person adult would even consider accepting. Then, they grow up (physically speaking, at least) and find themselves in a world which doesn't match up to their delusions.
Far from being the "loving" people they so publicly claim to be, they are actually surly, frustrated, cryptic and unhappy as a result of the brainwashing. If they weren't trying to alter the political landscape to reflect their phony map of the world, we could just feel pity for them, ignore and laugh at them them, but, alas, the battle against this idiocy continues.
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