PSYC 2120 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Dsm-5, Middle Ages, Wolfenden Report
19 Dec 2017
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Document Summary
Demedicalization occurs when a problem is no longer de ned in medical terms and involvement of medical personnel is no longer deemed appropriate (masturbation, homosexuality) These behaviours of homosexuality and masturbation did not change, but the de nition and social response to it did. Physician benkert de ned homosexuality as a medical pathology (could not change the direction or expression of their sexual desires) rather than a criminal offense, and they should be treated theraputically. The original medicalization of homosexuality was meant as a form of protection against oppressive legal sanctions. Freud"s followers believed that homosexuals experienced guilt over their perversion" which was at its root a medical disease (pre-oedipal origins) Homosexuality was put in the dsm-ii as a personality disorder under sexual deviation. Gay activists pushing for the gay pride movement set out to change the psychiatric de nition and treatment of homosexuality.
