A Psychoanalytic Approach

To the Female Homosexual

Dr. Richard C. Robertiello, psychoanalyst and author of VOYAGE FROM LESBOS, was heard recently over radio station KPFA (Berkeley, California), in a taped version of a talk with the above title, given before the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The talk was a brief summary statement of his views, and no supporting evidence was offered for the positions taken.

Dr. Robertiello claimed flatly "it can be stated unequivocally that there are no physical, organic, hormonal, or neurological factors involved in female homosexuality." Since, he continued, cures have been effected by psychoanalysis, it follows that psychic factors must be involved; the se he traced to one or more of or more of a number of possible childhood trauma. While he admitted that similar childhood trauma have been found in persons who are not homosexual, but who have "other severe neurotic disturbances", Dr. Robertiello bel ie ves that homosexual seduction in childhood is the most important factor that differentiates tho homosexual from the non-homo sexual with similar background.

The traumatic family patterns, some of which Dr. Robertiello believes are present in the background of all Lesbians, he lists as eleven:

10

1. A generally competitive mother

2.

3.

4.

5.

An overly restrictive mother

A cold, ungi ving mother

A brutal father

A seductive father

6. A cold, ungiving father

7.

An overly restrictive father

8.

9.

10. 11.

A poor relation between the parents

A seductive older brother

A sexually competitive older sister Another sibling favored by the parents