Homophobia

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.

This book attempts to pathologize homophobia, seeing it as a symptom of an emotional disorder and suggesting treatment options.

Booknews

Psychiatric scholar Kantor disagrees with the view that homophobia is simple a bad attitude or a political position, and analyzes it as an emotional disorder or symptom structurally akin to a psychopathic act or a paranoid delusion. He describes the general attributes of homophobia, distinguishes different kinds, explores some possible causes, develops a treatment program, and suggests how gays and lesbians can better deal with homophobia based on his scientific approach. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

MARTIN KANTOR is Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.