Conversion therapy

Psychology
- Conversion Therapy

Conversion therapy is the pseudoscientific practice of attempting to change an individual's sexual orientation, romantic orientation, gender identity, or gender expression to align with heterosexual and cisgender norms. Methods that have been employed for this purpose include forms of brain surgery, surgical or chemical (hormonal) castration, aversion therapy techniques such as electric shocks, nausea-inducing drugs, hypnosis, counseling, spiritual interventions, visualization, psychoanalysis, and arousal reconditioning. There is a scientific consensus that conversion therapy is ineffective in altering a person's sexual orientation or gender identity and that it often causes significant long-term psychological harm. The current position in evidence-based medicine and clinical guidance is that homosexuality, bisexuality, and gender variance are natural and healthy aspects of human sexuality. An increasing number of jurisdictions around the world have enacted laws against conversion therapy.

Historically, conversion therapy was the treatment of choice for individuals who disclosed same-sex attractions or exhibited gender nonconformity, which were previously assumed to be pathologies by the medical establishment. When performed today, conversion therapy may constitute fraud, and when conducted on minors, it may be viewed as a form of child abuse. Experts have described it as torture; cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment; and contrary to human rights.

External links

More information is available at [ Wikipedia:Conversion_therapy ]

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