Sexual Identity Flashcards
(20 cards)
Question of whether sexual orientation is
Innate – always existed – people don’t choose it (essentialist point of view or Fluid/change over time – changes as a result of society (constructionists point of view)
Models of identity development
Sociological ( coming out process) and Psychological (Examines self awareness, formation of self-image, and personal decisions about identity management)
Stages of development has
Has four developmental levels: Awareness Self labeling Community involvement and disclosure ( who is like me) Identity integration
Problems with models
does not reflect social realities of today, minimal research, gay men was the focus of research, and population studied was not diverse
Definition of Cass’s Model of Homosexual Identity Formation
Identity Formation – the process by which a person comes first to consider and later acquire the identity of “homosexual” as a relevant aspect of self
Cass’s Model of Homosexual Identity Formation results
Acquiring a homosexual identity results from the interaction between the individual and their environment
Cass’s Model stages of Identity are
Stages are both cognitive and affective
How individuals view (think about) themselves
How individuals feel about their own and others’ perceptions
Cass’s Model stages of Identity has
Six stages of perception and behavior moving from minimal awareness and acceptance to integration with other parts of self and Individuals may not go through all stages
Stage 1: Identity Confusion ( you are aware)
Awareness of homosexual thoughts, feelings, and attractions
Confusion and anxiety
May react positively by seeking more information which leads to the next stage
May reject what they think/feel which leads to foreclosure
Stage 2: Identity Comparison ( try to accept who you are)
Occurs once individuals accept that they might be gay/lesbian
Now confronted with how to manage social alienation
Seek out other gays/lesbians
Maintain a heterosexual public identity and try to “explain” behavior
Attempt to change homosexual behavior
Inhibit homosexual behavior and denigrate homosexual behavior
Stage 3: Identity Tolerance
Individuals acknowledge that they are gay/lesbian and seek out others to reduce feelings of isolation
The interactions they have effect how they feel about themselves and their identity
Negative interactions = foreclosure
Positive interactions = movement to stage 4
Stage 3 similar to stage 2
Stage 4: Identity Acceptance
A positive connotation exists
Contacts with gays/lesbians is frequent/friendships develop
The norms of the social groups influence how they present themselves
Some may act heterosexual, be out to some, or be public
Stage 5: Identity Pride
Individuals focus on gay issues and activities
Contact with heterosexuals is minimal
Pride in gay things/anger at things not gay
Individuals are public and vocally out
If received poorly by others they may foreclose
Stage 6: Identity Synthesis ( your identity is apart of you)
Homosexual and heterosexual worlds are less separate
Judgment is based on the person not the identity
Public and private lives are more congruent
Feelings of comfort/security in who they are
Homosexuality is one aspect of life not the entire identity
Fassinger’s Model of Gay and Lesbian Identity Development
Two parallel processes
Fassinger’s Model of Gay and Lesbian Identity Development
• Individual – internal awareness and acceptance of sexuality
o Awareness – viewing oneself as different from others
o Exploration – examining feelings of attraction for others of the same sex
o Deepening/Commitment – gay/lesbian identity is strengthened and sexuality becomes secure and internalized
o Internalization/Synthesis – sexual identity becomes part of overall identity
Fassinger’s Model of Gay and Lesbian Identity Development
• Group membership – what being gay or lesbian means in society and roles in the gay/lesbian community
o Awareness – realize others have different sexual orientations
o Exploration – experimenting with relationship to gay/lesbian community
o Deepening/Commitment – personal commitment to gay/lesbian community, even if there are negative consequences
o Internalization/Synthesis – identify as a minority group across contexts
D’Augelli’s Model of Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Development
Three interrelated variables in identity formation:
Personal subjectivities and actions – meanings, perceptions and feelings about sexual identities and behaviors
Interactive intimacies – influence of others and meanings attached to their influence
Sociohistorical connections – social norms, policies, and laws in locations/cultures and their value during different historical periods
D’Augelli’s Model of Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Development
o Assumptions:
• multiple changes can occur over time; life-long individualized developmental process
• “Developmental plasticity”- response to environmental and biological changes
• Categorical grouping for predicting developmental similarities: adulthood, unaccepting families, highly homogeneous communities, and certain time periods- the 1950s
• the more one is exposed to others with varying behavior styles, the more choices one has on how to live their life
D’Augelli’s Model of Lesbian, Gay, & Bisexual Development
o Identity Development Process (6 interactive processes):
• Exiting heterosexual identity
• Developing a personal GLB identity status
• What does it mean for me to be GLB?
Not completely internal. Can be done through bouncing ideas off others.
• Developing a GLB social identity
• Becoming a GLB offspring
• Disclosing one’s identity to parents and redefining one’s relationship therefore.
• Developing a GLB intimacy status
• Lack of cultural script for GLB leads to ambiguity and uncertainty
• College years are often a time when individuals establish their 1st meaningful GLB relationships
