Comments on: The roots of preventing homosexuality: George Rekers uncovered at Box Turtle Bulletin https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/06/07/the-roots-of-preventing-homosexuality-george-rekers-uncovered-at-boxturtlebulletin/ A [retired] college psychology professor's observations about public policy, mental health, sexual identity, and religious issues Wed, 30 May 2018 19:28:03 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 By: Warren https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/06/07/the-roots-of-preventing-homosexuality-george-rekers-uncovered-at-boxturtlebulletin/#comment-89386 Wed, 30 May 2018 19:28:03 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=9468#comment-89386 In reply to David Blakeslee.

The website appears to be down…

]]> By: Timothy Kincaid https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/06/07/the-roots-of-preventing-homosexuality-george-rekers-uncovered-at-boxturtlebulletin/#comment-84081 Wed, 30 May 2018 18:39:04 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=9468#comment-84081 Guys… to clear up some stuff (this is a complicated story)
The issue is not really whether the program is solely responsible for Kirk’s suicide. That is a bit unknowable and frankly a bit of a red herring.
The issue is that George Rekers made claims about the effectivity of therapy to prevent homosexuality. As evidence he presented Kraig and the story of Kraig was the primary evidence reported over his 30+ year career.
Rekers cannot say “I didn’t know.” Because he CLAIMED to know. As recent as 2009 (when Kirk had been dead for six years) Rekers was presenting the story of Kirk as evidence of his success.
So CONSEQUENCE ONE: whatever claims that Rekers made based on the Kraig case study no longer have any basis. Kraig did not “grow up straight” as Rekers reported. This speaks not to intent, but simply to the study being a failure rather than a success.
Further, Rekers should have known that Kraig was not a success. The follow up in his late teens reported (it’s there in the black and white) that Kirk had attempted suicide in the previous year. If this did not set off red flags for Rekers (and it appears that it did not) then Rekers may possibly be the single worst therapist to walk the face of the planet.
Truly, is there a greater sign of failure than your patient trying to kill themself at 17? Regardless of the reason for the attempt, clearly there’s a problem. To declare this kid to be “cured” has go to be callousness on a colossal level.
CONSEQUENCE TWO: George Rekers has demonstrated a desire to report conclusions that supported his agenda rather than facts. Thus, we know that any positions based on Rekers’ research has no basis.
So the twin pillars of Rekers and Kraig must be removed from the structure of reparative and preventative therapy.
I suspect that when these are removed, the entire structure has insufficient support. We will have to see.

]]> By: David Blakeslee https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/06/07/the-roots-of-preventing-homosexuality-george-rekers-uncovered-at-boxturtlebulletin/#comment-84080 Wed, 30 May 2018 18:39:04 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=9468#comment-84080 Timothy,
I think the nuclear explosion here is that Reker’s research is horribly flawed in its data collection. Regardless of how Kirk’s story played out (even if he turned out to be heterosexual), the:
1. Initial diagnosis of Kirk is extremely suspect (Reker appears to have exaggerated his symptoms).
2. The progress reported during treatment provided directly by Rekers is suspect (no control group, nothing to account for a compliant child wanting to please experiementers).
3. The research based upon the data collection by the mother is corrupt due to contamination by Kirk’s brother.
4. The lack of control on other contaminating variables like alcoholism and abuse (sexual repression is sometimes an outgrowth of trauma…you stop feeling everything).
5. The lack of humility about not knowing Kirk’s status as an adult when he was alive (he had no right to assume heterosexual adjustment).
The complexity associated with suicide needs to be acknowledged and is no “red herring”…but it is secondary to the clear corruption of Reker’s credibility on scientific grounds.

]]> By: Timothy Kincaid https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/06/07/the-roots-of-preventing-homosexuality-george-rekers-uncovered-at-boxturtlebulletin/#comment-84083 Wed, 30 May 2018 18:39:04 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=9468#comment-84083 And it is truly terrible of me…. but Reker’s compatriot in the whole mess was a guy named… Dr. I. Lovaas
Only a Mel Brooks character could have gotten away with that name.

]]> By: David Blakeslee https://wthrockmorton.com/2011/06/07/the-roots-of-preventing-homosexuality-george-rekers-uncovered-at-boxturtlebulletin/#comment-84082 Wed, 30 May 2018 18:39:04 +0000 http://wthrockmorton.com/?p=9468#comment-84082 Teresa,
My hunch is they will lift my arguments about confounding variables to deny that “reparative therapy” can account for Kirk’s being harmed.
Secondly, they are likely to say that a reparative model that is not interpersonally focused is likely to have poor effects and easily results in poor outcomes.
I don’t know of anyone, during my brief NARTH experience, that ever advocated for a behavioral model like Rekers’ to treat unwanted SSA.
Rekers’ model is not psychodynamic or interpersonal in nature. Joe’s work with adults will not be changed, his book on preventing homosexuality in children will need to be amended.

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