Sexual Orientation and Psychoanalysis

by Richard C. Friedman, Jennifer Downey

This book bridges psychoanalytic thought and sexual science. It brings sexuality back to the center of psychoanalysis and shows how important it is for students of human sexuality to understand motives that are often irrational and unconscious. The authors present a new perspective about male and female development, emphasizing the ways in which sexual orientation and homophobia appear early in life. The clinical section of the book focuses on the psychodynamics and treatment of homophobia and internalized homophobia.

Genres: Psychology

363 pages, Hardcover

First published May 15, 2002

Reviews

[Walter Rosenthal · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this book primarily addresses male homosexuality, it’s well written and successfully challenges the original concept among psychoanalysts that homosexuality is pathological.

[Emily Burke · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book claims to be about sexual orientation, but it focuses almost exclusively on male homosexuality (there is a single chapter dedicated to female homosexuality, as if it shouldn't be part of the book as a whole.) I only got through the first half before becoming frustrated with the androcentrism. However, the book does contain a lot of interesting information about the possible causes/contributing factors to sexual orientation.

[Jeremiah Friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haven't actually read this but my dad wrote it so it gets the automatic 5 stars