The Psychology of Sexual Orientation, Behavior, and Identity: A Handbook [Hardcover]

Louis Diamant (Editor), Richard D. McAnulty (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0313285012 | ISBN-13: 978-0313285011 | Publication Date: October 30, 1995

This comprehensive overview of research, issues, and theories relating to sexual orientation, behavior, and identity by experts in various disciplines is unique in providing both historical perspectives and a synthesis of the recent advances in understanding homosexuality and heterosexuality. Drawing from biological and psychological research, this handbook critically reviews the major theories about sexual orientation and examines each theory on the basis of empirical support. One section summarizes recent developments in genetic and neuroanatomic research. Another section discusses problems with sexual performance among heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual persons. A third section provides overviews of clinical disorders or sexual deviations. Various chapters clarify the distinction between sexual disorders, such as pedophilia, and sexual variations, such as homosexuality. Chapters also examine important social issues relevant to sexual orientation, such as disability, prejudice, aging, and gender roles. Experts address the continuing controversy over the feasibility of altering sexual orientation; new developments in treating different types of problems; and changing perspectives today. This handbook is designed for the use of educators, students, and researchers in the social and behavioral sciences.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This handbook provides an up-to-date and comprehensive summary of empirical findings on sexual orientation and behavior....The material is accurate and objective, but a background in the study of human sexuality will be helpful for fully comprehending much of the material. A resource and reference for researchers, teachers, therapists, and students/”–Choice

About the Author

LOUIS DIAMANT is Professor Emeritus of Psychology, having served as Chair and Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

RICHARD D. McANULTY is Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: Greenwood Press (October 30, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0313285012
• ISBN-13: 978-0313285011
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,277,516 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars A good book for its time, February 27, 2009

By 

G. Gustin "gman620" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Psychology of Sexual Orientation, Behavior, and Identity: A Handbook (Hardcover)

This is a great book, although one probably needs to have an upper college level education when reading it due to all of the scientific information presented. It's a very dense book but if you can get through the numbers and statistics, it's pretty good. It details the scientific (including biological and genetic) and psychological advances made in the 1990s regarding the study of the origin of sexual orientations and identities. The later parts of the book also take a look at the darker forms of sexuality, including pedophilia and incest, and how society can combat them. It also takes a detailed look at the history of how psychologists viewed alternative sexualities, and the profound shift that occurred in the 1970s when homosexuality was officially declassified as a mental illness. It helps explain how and why this happened. In the years that followed, mainstream psychology and psychiatry lead the way in helping society understand sexuality in a new way. The only flaw about this book that prevented me from giving it 5 stars is the fact that it is outdated (things have changed a lot since 1995 when it comes to biology and sexuality). Hopefully a more updated edition will be written soon.