I’m thinking that we could learn some things about plasticity from the journey of the one brother but his experience may say more to self-identity and labelling than it does to sexual orientation plasticity. If, for the sake of argument, the lad was orienting straight and then got turned to a gay identity, his ‘going straight’ would be seen as a return to his norm–or perhaps an undoing of the damage caused. This would not be compelling to someone who never felt destined for heterosexuality or straightness but was considering the merits of plasticity. The possibility that a gay orientation is inborn or is God’s created intent for an individual would be a major brain factor to be reckoned with. 1) If it is inborn or is God’s intent for an individual, then plasticity would be a war against the created self. 2) If it isn’t actually inborn or God’s intent, if the individual believes that it is, this would impact any motivation towards plasticity. I’m assuming that in the case of this young man, it likely wasn’t difficult to convince him that he was the victim of bad influence, therefore he wouldn’t have either of those blocks to plasticity.

We can still learn from it, I’m sure, I’d simply cautious that we not we use it as a model for plasticity in general.

Do you happen to know where anyone can get articles(academic ones) on these two young men?

@Ann: In the Video the sentence

Before I met Rick, I was straight, but now I am gay.

don’t feel like many same sex attraction. And it is no new thing, but rare in this direction. How many say at this age: “I’m straight” and have then a coming out? At this time you must sort your thoughts about attraction, feelings, and the new hormone-throbbed sexuality.

Just a sudden inspiration with no meaning: Have he a girlfriend because he had no mother? Would he repair his brokenness with a sexualized relationship?

I am also curious as to the kind of counseling they got while incarcerated. I wonder what approach Alex’s therapist took in addressing the gay identity he had. Was he encouraged to accept it and told he did not have a choice in the matter or was he treated as a unique individual and given the opportunity to reason his feelings out and understand them or was he told he was too young to make any kind of determination about the rest of his life? I wonder if it would be a good case for theapists to study and learn from – just not sure. I know I found it interesting and in line with what I know about children and young adults in the foster care system.