A differential conditioning procedure as the initial phase of the behaviour therapy of homosexuality

Treatment of homosexuality was attempted with the use of a double (differential) conditioning technique in which the projection of a picture of a semi-nude male was accompanied by an electric shock, while the presentation of a photograph of a female was positively reinforced by the termination of a continuous electric shock. Subjects for this study consisted of six male homosexuals of whom all but one suffered from neurotic anxiety. Galvanic skin response and plethysmograph response were used as measures of autonomic functions for objective assessment of therapeutic results. Clinical observations indicated that abstention from homosexual activity was the main clinical result of therapy. No change was found in the autonomic responses to male pictures but there appeared to be an increase in responses to sexually stimulating female pictures as a result of treatment. Changes in clinical and autonomic behaviour are conceived as indicative of a sexual vacuum conducive to the development of heterosexual activity.