Articles on Homosexuality in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis: A Critical Review

Abstract

We examined how homosexuality was treated in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis from 1968 to 2010. Ten articles were selected according to the inclusion criterion (i.e., articles that dealt with homosexuality or related topics). The selection was conducted using a digital search based on the following terms: gay, LGB, LGBT, homosexual, homosexuality, homosexualism, bisexual, bisexuality, bisexualism, transexual, transexuality, transexualism, transvestism, transvestic, lesbianism, lesbian, sexuality, sexual, sex, gender, male, and female. The articles were then classified according to the following unit of analysis: “view of homosexuality as a deviant or non-deviant feature.” Five articles presented the view of homosexuality as a deviant feature, two articles presented a positive notion of the topic, and three articles did not clearly mention any view on the theme. The results are discussed in terms of the influence of historical conditions and social values on clinical behavior analysis practices.   Keywords: homosexuality; Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis; clinical behavior analysis; behavioral treatment of sexual deviance