science

Medical views of conversion therapy

Medical views of conversion therapy is a science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Medical views of conversion therapy rather than just read about it. In short: Many health organizations around the world have denounced and criticized efforts to change individuals' sexual orientation and gender identity. National health organizations in the United States have stated that there has been no scientific demonstration of conversion therapy's efficacy in the last fifty years, finding that conversion therapy is ineffective and potentially harmful.

Key takeaways

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Reference excerpt

Many health organizations around the world have denounced and criticized efforts to change individuals' sexual orientation and gender identity. National health organizations in the United States have stated that there has been no scientific demonstration of conversion therapy's efficacy in the last fifty years, finding that conversion therapy is ineffective and potentially harmful. Anecdotal claims of cures are counterbalanced by assertions of harm. The American Psychiatric Association cautions ethical practitioners under the Hippocratic Oath to do no harm and to thus refrain from attempts at conversion therapy. Mainstream medical bodies state that conversion therapy can be harmful because it may exploit guilt and anxiety, thereby damaging self-esteem and leading to depression and even suicide. There is also concern in the mental health community that the advancement of conversion therapy can cause social harm by disseminating inaccurate views about gender identity, sexual orientation, and the ability of LGBTQ people to lead happy, healthy lives.

List of health organizations critical of conversion therapy Major health organizations critical of conversion therapy include:

Multi-national health organizations World Psychiatric Association World Medical Association Pan American Health Organization regional office of the World Health Organization International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses

Australian health organizations Australian Medical Association Australian Psychological Society National LGBTI Health Alliance Royal Australian College of General Practitioners - operates a unit titled Sex, sexuality, gender diversity and health as part of its curriculum for aspiring general practitioners and for professional development. It is intended to foster the provision of "non-judgmental holistic care that is affirming and positive when disclosure occurs and based on sound knowledge of any mental or physical health risks and requirements for screening, because like many others in the Australian population, many sex, sexuality and gender diverse individuals do not want to be solely defined by their gender or sexual identity." Royal Australasian College of Physicians - President Dr. Catherine Yelland stated in a press release issued by the college that "[g]ay conversion therapy is unethical, harmful and not supported by medical evidence". Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists

Canadian health organizations Canadian Psychological Association Public Health Agency of Canada

Hong Kong health organizations Hong Kong College of Psychiatrists Hong Kong Psychological Society

Indian health organizations National Medical Commission. Indian Psychiatric Society Indian Association of Clinical Psychologists Association of Psychiatric Social Work Professionals Centre of Mental Health Law and Policy

UK health organizations National Association of School Psychologists UK Council for Psychotherapy British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy British Psychological Society British Psychoanalytic Council Royal College of Psychiatrists British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies Association of Christian Counsellors National Counselling Society Scottish National Health Service English National Health Service Royal College of General Practitioners

US health organizations American Medical Association American Psychiatric Association American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy American Counseling Association National Association of Social Workers American Academy of Pediatrics American Academy of Physician Assistants American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists Annals of Family Medicine American Foundation for Suicide Prevention American Psychological Association (APA)

APA taskforce study The American Psychological Association (APA) undertook a study of the peer-reviewed literature in the area of sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE) and found several issues with the procedures used in conducting the research. The taskforce did find that some participants experienced a lessening of same-sex attraction and arousal, but that these instances were "rare" and "uncommon". The taskforce concluded that, "given the limited amount of methodically sound research, claims that recent SOCE is effective are not supported". An issue with SOCE claims is that conversion therapists falsely assume that homosexuality is a mental disorder. Additionally, their research focuses almost exclusively on gay men and rarely includes lesbians.

Other health organizations Albanian Order of Psychologists Brazilian Federal Council of Psychology Chilean College of Psychologists Israel Medical Association Lebanese Psychiatric Society Norwegian Psychiatric Association Psychological Society of Ireland Spanish Psychological Association South African Society of Psychiatrists

… excerpt ends here. Continue reading the full article.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Medical views of conversion therapy

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Medical views of conversion therapy claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Medical views of conversion therapy before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Medical views of conversion therapy ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Medical views of conversion therapy

In research: Medical views of conversion therapy appears in science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Medical views of conversion therapy in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Medical views of conversion therapy is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Conversion therapy, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Medical views of conversion therapy outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Medical views of conversion therapy in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Medical views of conversion therapy means in your own words.
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Frequently asked questions

What is Medical views of conversion therapy in simple terms?

Why does Medical views of conversion therapy matter?

Because it connects several science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Medical views of conversion therapy?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Medical views of conversion therapy.