Kantor's book is a logical next step in theory and practice on homophobia. Between the 1960s and the late 1990s, psychologists have shifted perspectives from the belief that gay people are mentally well adjusted, to the notion that homophobia as a form of emotional disorder in anyone who expresses it. Kantor lays out the last important step in this progression. The book clearly shows the models of homophobia and the outcomes for gay men and lesbians. The author relates specific aspects of homophobia to types of emotional disorders. For instance, he describes homophobia as linked to mood disorders, phobic/avoidant disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorders, and various personality disorders. Kantor emphasizes, perhaps a little strongly, the psychoanalytic approach to understanding the causes of homophobia. He also provides a good description of clinical approaches to treating homophobia and excellent suggestions for how to combat homophobia on an interpersonal level. Although his book focuses on homophobia, its applicability to other types of bias, discrimination, and bigotry is unmistakable and compelling. All levels.
An important and timely attempt to fill a recognized gap....The major strength of this book is that it opens up for psychoanalysis a topic neglected for too long. For students of psychiatry, it provides an excellent basis for a discussion of traditional homophobic assumptions and practices within the field....I found the book insightful and interesting. I recommend it for all psychodynamically-trained analysts as one of very few texts that use psychodynamic constructs to confront this critical issue in psychiatry. While few may agree with all of Dr. Kantor's insights, analysts should benefit from a critical reading of this important work so that, ultimately, the homophobia present in so many of our patients is no longer ignored.
Product Description
Many gays and simpatico straights view homophobia as a problem for gays and lesbians, but not as a treatable disorder. This book attempts to pathologize most forms of homophobia--to view homophobia as a symptom of an emotional disorder. Homophobia is studied from a developmental perspective, showing how it originates in the homophobe's early relationships. With a scientifically-based eclectic treatment approach, this work uses psychodynamic, interpersonal, existential, cognitive/behavioral, and supportive techniques to treat homophobes and to help gays and lesbians who are the recipients of the manifestations of this emotional disorder. Though about homophobia, this book is also meant to shed light on other forms of bigotry, from anti-Semitism to xenophobia. It will be of interest to gays and lesbians, sympathetic heterosexuals, therapists, and faculty and students in gay and lesbian studies.
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