would naturally be a much higher than average proportion of emotional disturbances, or psychiatric abnormalities.

With all this in mind, let us turn to consideration of some of the pronouncements of these two British psychiatrists.

The major conclusion drawn by them is a significant one that warrants careful consideration:

"In our series, both practising and non-practising homosexuals were on the whole successful and valuable members of society, quite unlike the popular conception of such persons as vicious, criminal, effete or depraved. Only one-fifth were at all obviously 'pansy,' and we found no reason to regard most of the patients as physically, intellectually or emotionally immature (unless the basic criterion for 'immaturity' is that of being a homosexual-a circular argument)."

Despite the fact that these cases contained a high proportion of the criminally charged and were all referred for psychiatric care, the authors found the following:

"Only half the patients showed significant psychiatric abnormality other than their sexual deviation, and such associated abnormalities were often slight. Moreover, many of these abnormalities were explicable as a reaction to the difficulties of being homosexual.

"If homosexuality is a disease (as has often been suggested), it is in a vast number of cases monosymptomatic (having only a single symptom), non-progressive, and compatible with subjective wellbeing and objective efficiency."

It is interesting to note what the analysis revealed concerning the effect of psychiatric treatment on homosexual inclinations.

There were fifty-nine patients about whom enough follow-up information was available to evaluate the effect of treatment. Of these fifty-nine, there was no change at all in sexual orientation in forty cases. Nine cases reported "less intense homosexual feelings" or "increased capacity for heterosexual arousal," while three became more homosexual. Those who did change were almost exclusively those defined as "bisexuals."

The researchers also compared a group of twenty-five patients who had some kind of psychotherapy in a follow-up period of almost five years with a matched group of twenty-five who had no such treatment,

They found no significant difference between the two groups as regards "change in sexual orientation, discretion or control."

There was no evidence, they point out, that "psychotherapy had any obvious effect in any way, on points that could be tested." For this rea son, they asserted, they believe that all claims for the "cure" of homo, sexuals should be treated with reserve unless the seven-point rating of homosexuality introduced by the late Dr. Kinsey is used before and after treatment and real evidence of change presented.

It has been suggested by some writers in the field that homosexuals are often attracted to homosexual acts because the illegality of these acts heightened their appeal. Dr. Edmund Bergler, for example, believes that the strongest motivation of every homosexual is the

mallachine REVIEW

100%

Unchanged

96%+ 85%+

578+

213+

A-100% HOMOSEXUAL

B-PREDOMINANTLY HOMOSEXUAL

Becoming MORE Homosexual

C-BISEXUAL

The of sexuals is depicted by this chart. In 40 cases, there was no change at all. 9 cases reported less intense homosexual feelings or stronger heterosexual arousal, while three became more homosexual. Note that those who did change were almost exclusivaly In Group C. defined as "bisexuals." In Group A. cases classed as "100% home sexual, only 1 individual out of 24 studied showed a slight change. In Group B. "predominantly homosexual," 2 out of 14 showed a slight change. Among 14 'bisexual" individuals, 6 became more beterosexual, while 3 became more hon sexual. Ratings are based on the Kinsey Rating Scale.

sexuals is decalatric treatment on the sexual orientation of a group of 59 hoc

unconscious desire for "defeat, humiliation, rejection." In the opin ion of the British psychiatrists, some homosexuals gain added pleasure by eluding arrest. On the other hand, they said, they found no patient whose gratification had been enhanced by detection and punishment "any more than thrill-seeking racing drivers enjoy a crash."

Marriage has sometimes been suggested to homosexuals as method of treatment. Nineteen of the hundred patients studied in this research project were, or had been, married. In only eight cases, the report says, was marital adjust ment apparently satisfactory. Ten of the nineteen, a much higher proportion than among the single men, were referred to psychiatristic care as a result of a criminal charge. One individual had been

married for a period of twentyfive years, and had six children. But during all these years he had been able to achieve sexual climax only with the help of homosexual fantasies.

The importance of this study reported in the British Medical Journal can be gauged from the authors' assertion that a search of the scientific literature on the subject revealed no studies of a group of homosexuals comparable to the hundred cases analyzed.

Most surveys, they point out, have been concerned with special problems encountered in prison, mental hospitals, etc. The difficulty of any such survey is that the ma jority of practicing homosexuals never come in contact either with legal or medical authorities. Consequently, generalizations made about them may not be accurate.