Sexual Orientation - Essay Example

Sexual Orientation Anderson, C. (2009). Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation. American Psychological Association, 13(4), 1-138. Purpose Sexual orientation is one of the most confusing self-definitions of all times in history. With a partial change in societal attitude about sexuality, more adolescents and young adults find themselves in a fix about what their true sexual orientation is. With these considerations in mind, The Task Force charged with Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation in the American Psychological Association performed a systematic review of sexual orientation literature’s peer reviewed journal, with reference to change efforts. This task force was charged with three main purposes; 1. perform a review and an update of the Resolution on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation 2. Come up with a report that discusses the following; -Applications that are appropriate for affirmative therapeutic interventions ascribed to children, as well as adolescents who exude a desire to change the orientation of their sex or the expression of behavior linked to their sexual orientation. -The presence of inpatient facilities for adolescents, that offer coerced treatment whose design id meant to alter their sexual orientation. -Issues of training and research ascribed to these therapeutic interventions. Methods To come to the accuracy and concurrence of their research, (Anderson 2009) made use of academic and reputable journals. As such, they made a study and the analysis of the facts presented in the long done studies. This article includes the data and the imperial analysis of the Wave 1 of the Home sample of the Add Health Study. This is the initial study in the US that came out strongly to investigate the relevance of the effects of sexual orientation in young people in the world but particularly in the US. The Add Health Examination took into the account 12,000 adolescents who gave a representation of a number of the US schools, that is, 134 to be specific. This sample presented a wholesome degree of all social and economic class. They included the reflection of urban influence and urbanization, types of schools, ethnic grouping and ethnicity, and the size of the school. The study had a conglomeration of design because the study comprised of a number of many schools that they had to apply different methods to come up with the authentic results and outcomes. To come up with a comprehensive result on sexuality and the risks involved therein, Anderson’s sample study took into account 6,254 adolescent girls and 5,686 adolescent boys who gave sufficient information that enabled them to come up with an evidentially reliable information on the risks sexual orientation would bear on the adolescents. To get good and reliable information, they used different methods get more reliable data. These included the use of audio computer-aided self-interview. In this, the participants used the earphones to listen and respond to the questions. The purpose of this is to keep the adolescent away from the parental influence. This would help in giving the appropriate and the most accurate information that is dependable since the respondent would not be under any influence. The measure of the adolescent of same sex and sexual orientation was combined with the reports of same-sex romantic attractions and same-sex romantic relationship through several questions. The questions that were asked were as to whether they have had sex with the opposite sex and with a person of the sexual orientation. They were also asked how to they found being in a relationship with people of different ethnic grouping or people of whom they do not share the same race with. They were further asked to disclose their romantic experiences if they had had such experiences before. They were also interrogated of their most recent partners, what made them get attracted to them and why they got detached from them. The factors that they considered when choosing the right partners or those whom they considered to be nice formed the become issues of investigations. The researchers also took a keen look into the risky behaviors that the adolescent of specific sexual orientation would have or the pattern of thought that they are likely to adopt in the course of events especially when they are confronted with confusing issues of life. There was an investigation on their dominant thought central of the investigation being that on suicide and the attempts to take away life. Aggression and violent behaviors also took a central theme in the investigation of the relationship of sexual orientation and that of risky behaviors that could harm them or those that could harm their counterparts and peers. There are variables that were put into considerations when investigating the matters that relate to the issues of risk that the adolescents are vulnerable to in their relationships with others. The variables that were controlled include race, gender, and regional and/or religious ascriptions. Findings/ results There are many issues that have cropped up in this aggressively changing world. The issue of sex identity and sexual knowledge takes the lead; parents, guardians, and educators all have not come to conclusively unravel the confusion that ensnares young people in this regard. According to the report in the American Psychological Association (APA), the task force reported on the issues that draws confusion to the children and the adolescent in terms of sexual orientation and identity. The lessons learnt in this regard, are far of enormous importance to come the knowledge of this fact. The issues of concern that the lessons brought to focus includes the a proper and a reasonable adoption of affirmative action and therapeutic intervention for young people and the adolescent who are in the verge of changing their sexual orientation or presenting the appropriate information on the mode of identity to adopt in regards to the sexual recognition. This is to directly infer the influence that their guardians implore on them. The second lesson that is vividly brought out by this research is the being of the adolescent impatient facilities that offer coercive treatment made to alter sexual orientation and/or the behavioral expression of sexual orientation. Third, it is brought to the knowledge of students that there are appropriate protocols that are mandatory in light of the treatment concerning the sound decision in regards to the sanity of the sexual orientation that one should adapt to in the process of growth and development to maturity. Adolescent sexual orientation to that matter is an issue that bears more risk of misconception since religion present knowledge on sexuality with many fears. This could create a lot of confusion to the adolescent. ( Anderson, 2009) examined this course keenly with the reference being in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health in order to establish a concrete understanding on the adolescent and sexual orientation. Among other issues that are brought to focus include the question as to whether youths with have same-sexual orientation and in reality exposed to more harmful activities and risk than their counterparts who have different sexual orientation. They further examined as to whether this very youths are still exposed to major risks even after their risky indulgent has been taken into account. Discussion/ Recommendations The truth about social deviants cannot be changed. It is, therefore, the role of every stakeholder to be responsible for of the situation as it is and shapes the lives of those who have different sexual orientation. Those who have different sexual orientation need to be treated with care to develop them socially and emotionally. As the findings show, parents who accept their children as they are help their ability to develop normally and be of help to the society. Those who are not accepted live in fear and end up being cowards and unproductive. Results show that families with a member having a same sex relationship are more likely to have a child of the same behavior. It is, therefore, necessary to shield such relationships from children at a tender age so that they develop a straight and morally accepted sexual orientation. There must be a level of trust between the child being accessed and the professional assessing the child. The professional must help patients understand their conditions, listen to them and answer questions appropriately and also spend an appropriate time with the patients. The assessment and evaluation are covered in the process of getting information and data. The instruments show how the assessment is done and also how to evaluate the information provided. Critical Assessment and Evaluation From this research, I have learnt that it is best to accept the bad to avoid the worse. Accepting a person with same sex orientation saves the person from worse effects of dented ego. The researchers carefully and meticulously studied the relationship between sex orientation and development of an individual; the result clearly shows that the bond between the two is in the acceptance. I would recommend that the society accepts everyone irrespective of their sexual orientation to help them grow. The research shows a correlation between the existing facts and the new findings. It is my hope that it will be used as a platform for reference, criticized and complemented as better and clearer findings are developed about this issue; sexual orientation. Sexual analysis and investigation is a crucial study. I have come to conclude that there is need to study and analyze cases of sexual identity not only to remedy the risks involved which comes with the confusion that comes with sexual orientation during adolescent stage of growth. There is an outlook that I have adopted while carrying out research. This is due to the seriousness that the researchers adopt. In this study, for the accuracy of purpose, they used the audio recording techniques and autonomous listening techniques via the earphones to enable them get independent and uninfluenced response from the participants. I have come to know that for accurate results, there must be an adoption of friendly and well thought of methods of analysis so as to get valid information. In the analysis, I have come know that it is also vital to refer to other scholarly data to make comparison that can lead to credibility of the findings. Though I agreed with the information provided ion this article, I disagree with the fact that adolescent of the same sexual orientations are exposed to the same risks for example suicide. Problems that the adolescents experience are unique to their special environments and personal influence. Read More