Michael King, British psychiatrist and researcher, is behind a research wesbite called Treatmentshomosexuality.org.uk. The website’s purpose is stated up front:
The website is new and under development. It is about use of so-called “treatments” that aim to make homosexual people heterosexual. It arose from research funded by the Wellcome Trust from 2001 to 2004 into the oral history of such treatments in Britain since 1950.
Treatments to change a person’s sexuality are unethical and may be damaging. This is because homosexuality is NOT a disorder. Nor is there any evidence that any such “treatments” are effective. That is the reason why we collected a number of oral histories from lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people who had undergone therapy. We also collected oral histories from professionals who had developed and conducted the treatments. We wanted to know how patients had coped with the potentially damaging effects of “treatment” and whether the professionals had eventually realised the harm they were doing.
On this website you will find some of the oral histories that arose from that research. We have not put all the narratives here; rather we have included only those that show particular issues and that are the most revealing of how treatments were conducted. To read them click on the Narratives button and then on Patient Story or Professional Story. You can also read about and listen to views about such treatments on the Interviews page.
We are eager to make contact with other people around the world who may have undergone these “treatments”. Unfortunately, we are aware that many lesbian, gay and bisexual people have undergone psychotherapy, aversion behaviour therapy, or various forms of spiritual or reparative therapy, to try to become heterosexual. This may have happened to you or be happening to you now. You may even be a friend or relative of someone who has received or is receiving treatment. If so, we would like you to send us your story.
We are also eager to hear from professionals, be they doctors, psychotherapists, counsellors or psychologists, who may have undertaken these treatments at any time in their career. Please send us your accounts of giving these therapies and what you think about them now.
You can do this by contacting us with a written account, or an audio or video digital recording of your account. If it is suitable we shall edit it to ensure it is anonymous and will not cause offence to third parties. We shall then add it to the stories already on this website.
In particular, we want to hear from people living in places such as India, South America and China where much less research into these matters has been conducted.
With this tone and content on the front page, one might be surprised to learn that the research team is also interested in positive experiences in change therapy. Yesterday, Dr. King disclosed this apparent shift in response to a question from commenter Peter Ould. Ould asked, “Would you be amenable to using your website here to also post anecdotal stories of those who have had positive experiences of reparative therapy or other faith-based pastoral approaches?”
To which, Dr. King replied:
And yes, we will place positive accounts of treatments on the website. When we conducted our original oral history research, we couldn’t find any. However, we did find professionals who continued to advocate treatments and their comments were published in our papers in the British Medical Journal and on our website.
This research effort seems to be going down a similar road as did Ariel Shidlo and Michael Schroeder. When Shidlo and Schroeder began recruiting subjects for their study of harm from reorientation, they began with the project titled: “Homophobic therapies: Documenting the damage.” They changed their focus somewhat after some people presented with stories of benefit. A similar course may be in store for this newer effort.
To be clear, I am not posting this because I favor change therapies. I think there are some people who have experienced change to varying degrees, but I also think that if you are going to research a topic, you should minimize confirmation bias to the greatest degree possible. If it was my project, I would make the website more neutral and also hold out an invitation to clients and therapists who are/were involved in sexual identity therapy.
It will be interesting to follow this project…
Just one, small scientific discovery will bring down both sides. I’ll try and remember to yell “timber!” when I see it coming. Breakthroughs are inevitable and generally arrive unexpected. It could happen any day.
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Nobody saw this brewing on the horizon before it was released.
Warren,
I am curious – how would a therapist go about looking for Social/Religious Desirability biases in clients – or would they even bother? There seems to be a concern over Confirmation Bias, I would think these other biases would skew results and harm the scientific process as well. I am not trying to be flippant here, I am curious.
Thanks, Carole.
His statement likening it to whether one is racially black or white reveals that he has already formed a conclusion not as yet proven by any scientific method…that one is born gay.
I had considered participating in the study but have decided not to.
First rule of scientific research : abandon your preconceptions at the door.
Academic Honesty is very difficult sometimes. It’s something I strive for, but I’m not sure I always achieve it. Peer review and criticism even before publication is needed. And the most valuable criticism often comes from those who disagree the most vehemently.
Science should not be an echo-chamber and mutual admiration society. We must go where the evidence leads us, to fit the observations to hypotheses, but not to coerce them. To modify ideas to fit the facts, not the other way around.
I’m stating the obvious, but in a charged politico-religious atmosphere, I’ve found this to be the exception rather than the rule. It’s one of the reasons why I have so much respect for Dr T. It’s because of his inconsistency. He has changed his mind over the years as better data has come in. And if better data comes in, will change again if the facts don’t fit his opinions. I strive to follow his example.
“When the facts change, I change my mind. What do you do, sir?”
– John Maynard Keynes
Warren said,
Touche!
Carole – You’re correct, it was a non-answer.
Probably two poles of the same earth, rather than so close as a coin 🙂
Warren,
On the previous thread entitled “Reorientation therapies in the UK: Survey Results” Mr. King was asked this by a poster:
It was a fair, straightforward question, the answer to which would give people requisite knowledge of any bias or prejudice that Mr. King and his associates might bring to their work, bias or prejudice that could affect the results or the presentation and analyses of such results.
Mr. King chose to answer with this:
What a shame that the field is full of the Nicolosis and the Kings of the world, two sides of the same coin.