THE EXISTENTIAL APPROACH TO THE CAUSATION AND MAINTENANCE OF MALE HOMOSEXUALITY-In Three Parts

Part One INTRODUCTION and DEVELOPMENTAL PROCESS LEADING UP TO HOMOSEXUALITY

DENNISON W. NICHOLS

A few months ago Bieber and his associates' study on homosexuality was published (Bieber & Associates, 1962). This study is obviously a result of much time and effort. Unlike many previous studies, there is an attempt to verify some of the psychoanalytical theories that exist in regard to the cause of homosexuality. Like many of the earlier volumes on this subject, however, there is lacking a description of the human being's need to be as he is in a manner that the reader is actually put in the described person's place. It is because of a differentness between homosexuals and heterosexuals that makes it so difficult for the one to see the other's point of view. Thus, the following comments by Cleckley, Balint, Allen and Fromm are typical of heterosexually oriented authori ties:

Unaware in his direct experience of what men and women can be to each other as mates, he (the homosexual) has little means of contrasting his own sexual experiences and longings and concepts of love with heterosexual life. (Cleckley, 1957. p. 29.) Homosexuals... have to assert that their way of life and sexual pleasure is more beautiful, more gratifying, more everything than that of normal people. The reason is near at hand. They have to use overemphasis in order to deny-what they all know-that, without normal intercourse, there is no real contentment. (Sandor, editor, 1956. p. 24.)

A woman is so desirable, so lovely, so fascinating in her ways and attractive in her body', that homosexuality is incomprehensible to the healthy normal man. No normal man is ever satiated with women and turns to men or boys because they are likely to give him more pleasure. (Allen & Berg, 1958, p. 37.)

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Man-and woman-finds union within himself only in the union of his female and his male polarity. This polarity is the basis for all creativity.

The male-female polarity is also the basis for interpersonal creativity. This is obvious biologically in the fact, that the union of sperm and ovum is the basis for the birth of a child. But in the purely psychic realm it is not different; in the love between man and woman, each of them is reborn. (The homosexual deviation is a failure to attain this polarized union, and thus the homosexual suffers from the pain of never-resolved separateness, a failure, however, which he shares with the average heterosexual who cânnot love.) (Fromm, 1956. pp. 33-34.)

In contrast to the above, the editors of One proclaim their views of homosexuality when they say:

We feel generally agreed that homosexuality is a good thing, and that there is a place for it in a moral and well integrated society. (One Confidential, vol. 5, no. 1.)

It is apparent from the above that any existential psychology pertainingto homosexuality will unlikely ever be developed by a heterosexually oriented person. Such concepts would conflict with a heterosexual's sense of meaningful existence. The situation is interpreted differently by both peoples; it has a different meaning. What a heterosexual is talking about in regard to homosexuality is not what a homosexual is talking about; entirely different feelings are experienced by the two. As Benjamin says:

...nobody can understand the homophile as well as another homophile. (Benjamin, 1958. p. 15).

It is the purpose of this article to explain why homosexuality is important to the homosexual. Needless to say, an attempt to explain something "undesirable" by something undesirable that occurs in one's past has no place in this article. In this respect there is agreement with Beier, when he says:

While there is much confusion in theoretical formulation, as well as in research findings with regard to origin, it becomes clear that a scientific explanation must avoid past (sin) and present (maladjustment) moral cliches which are likely to cloud the issue. (Beier, 1960. pp. 4-5.)

Existential psychology has been in existence for many years. It is described by Buytendijk as follows:

Existential psychology is based on the primordial fact of human existence... (It) means first and foremost: analysis of the meaning