Counseling and Wellness Services at Wright State University

A MODEL OF GAY, LESBIAN, & BISEXUAL IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT

Stage 1: Sensitization

Occurs: Before Puberty

Characterized By: Feeling different “for some reason” from peers.

Results: Individual begins to make adjustments and view self in an atypical manner.

Movement to Next Stage: If individual is unable to maintain or reclaim a congruent identity at this stage, movement to the next stage occurs.

- Feelings of differentness are usually associated with “gender” rather than “sex” at this age.

- Children usually experience teasing or negative labeling for cross-gender traits (“sissies” or “tomboys”, etc.)

Stage 2: Identity Confusion

Occurs: In adolescence as individuals begin to label some behaviors as Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual.

Characterized By: Feelings of differentness becoming more associated with sexuality.

Results: Stagnation as a closeted individual or movement towards acceptance of self.

Movement to Next Stage: If individual is unable to maintain or reclaim a congruent identity at this stage, movement to the next stage occurs.

- Individuals begin to feel that there may not be an identity category for them.

- Feelings of sexuality are difficult to accept as they may be dissimilar to those felt by majority of peers.

- Teasing and harassment may continue.

- Strategy to cope with confusion may take one or more of four different forms:

o DENIAL – Simply deny feelings and impulses.

o AVOIDANCE – Staying away situations and people where these feeling may come up.

o REPAIR – Active work to try and appear Straight to self and others.

o COMPARTMENTALIZATION – Maintaining level that it is only my sexuality.

o ACCEPTANCE – Integrate feelings and impulses as being part of the self.

THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT STAGE.

Stage 3: Identity Assumption

Occurs: Early Adulthood

Characterized By: Less feelings of social and personal isolation.

Results: Greater integration of the self with sexual identity.

Movement to Next Stage: Need for even more congruence and a feeling of wholeness.

- Stability in family and friends is important in this stage as individuals begin to experiment in Being Out.

- Typical problems at this stage are isolation and rejection and abandonment from family/friends.

- AIDS has had the effect of delaying identity integration because of the irrational fear associated between AIDS and being Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual.

- Management of stigma is important at this stage and may be accomplished in one or more of three ways:

CAPITULATION – Believes negative stereotypes, but still claims membership of the community.
PASSING – Selective concealment of one’s identity.
ALIGNMENT – Immersion of the self in the Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual communities.

Stage 4: Commitment & Integration

Occurs: Anytime in life after the first three stages have been experienced.

Characterized By: Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual becoming a way of being rather than only a description of one’s sexual behavior.

Results: Intimate love commitment and ability to identity oneself as Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual to other individuals.

Movement to Next Stage: New situations, people, or stress due to trauma.

- Individuals experience a feeling of greater happiness and self-satisfaction.

- Management of stigma not handled through passing but by greater integration of one’s sexuality with one’s identity.

These Stages are crossed and re-crossed many times throughout one’s life.

- Movement, experiences, and age of onset in these stages can differ depending on whether one is Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual.

- There is a growing transgender movement that this model does not necessarily encompass.

- This is a continual and cyclical model.

From: Troiden, R.R (1989). The formation of homosexual identities. Journal of Homosexuality, 17, (1/2), 43-73).

(The original text is not inclusive of people who are Bisexual and has been adapted for the current text.)

Compiled by:

Barry A. Schreier, Ph. D.

BRIDGE PARTNERS

(765) 429-6535

This information is posted with the permission of its author: Barry A. Schreier, Ph.D.


	A MODEL OF GAY, LESBIAN, & BISEXUAL IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT Stage 1: Sensitization Occurs: Before Puberty Characterized By: Feeling different “for some reason” from peers. Results: Individual begins to make adjustments and view self in an atypical manner. Movement to Next Stage: If individual is unable to maintain or reclaim a congruent identity at this stage, movement to the next stage occurs. - Feelings of differentness are usually associated with “gender” rather than “sex” at this age. - Children usually experience teasing or negative labeling for cross-gender traits (“sissies” or “tomboys”, etc.) Stage 2: Identity Confusion Occurs: In adolescence as individuals begin to label some behaviors as Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual. Characterized By: Feelings of differentness becoming more associated with sexuality. Results: Stagnation as a closeted individual or movement towards acceptance of self. Movement to Next Stage: If individual is unable to maintain or reclaim a congruent identity at this stage, movement to the next stage occurs. - Individuals begin to feel that there may not be an identity category for them. - Feelings of sexuality are difficult to accept as they may be dissimilar to those felt by majority of peers. - Teasing and harassment may continue. - Strategy to cope with confusion may take one or more of four different forms: o *DENIAL – Simply deny feelings and impulses.* *o AVOIDANCE – Staying away situations and people where these feeling may come up.* *o REPAIR – Active work to try and appear Straight to self and others.* *o COMPARTMENTALIZATION – Maintaining level that it is only my sexuality.* *o ACCEPTANCE – Integrate feelings and impulses as being part of the self.* THIS IS THE MOST DIFFICULT STAGE. Stage 3: Identity Assumption Occurs: Early Adulthood Characterized By: Less feelings of social and personal isolation. Results: Greater integration of the self with sexual identity. Movement to Next Stage: Need for even more congruence and a feeling of wholeness. - Stability in family and friends is important in this stage as individuals begin to experiment in Being Out. - Typical problems at this stage are isolation and rejection and abandonment from family/friends. - AIDS has had the effect of delaying identity integration because of the irrational fear associated between AIDS and being Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual. - Management of stigma is important at this stage and may be accomplished in one or more of three ways: *CAPITULATION – Believes negative stereotypes, but still claims membership of the community.* *PASSING – Selective concealment of one’s identity.* *ALIGNMENT – Immersion of the self in the Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual communities.* Stage 4: Commitment & Integration Occurs: Anytime in life after the first three stages have been experienced. Characterized By: Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual becoming a way of being rather than only a description of one’s sexual behavior. Results: Intimate love commitment and ability to identity oneself as Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual to other individuals. Movement to Next Stage: New situations, people, or stress due to trauma. - Individuals experience a feeling of greater happiness and self-satisfaction. - Management of stigma not handled through passing but by greater integration of one’s sexuality with one’s identity. These Stages are crossed and re-crossed many times throughout one’s life. - Movement, experiences, and age of onset in these stages can differ depending on whether one is Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual. - There is a growing transgender movement that this model does not necessarily encompass. - This is a continual and cyclical model. From: Troiden, R.R (1989). The formation of homosexual identities. Journal of Homosexuality, 17, (1/2), 43-73). (The original text is not inclusive of people who are Bisexual and has been adapted for the current text.) Compiled by: Barry A. Schreier, Ph. D. BRIDGE PARTNERS (765) 429-6535 This information is posted with the permission of its author: Barry A. Schreier, Ph.D.
Text Only Version	This site was last updated on August 29, 2007 by Robert A. Rando, Ph.D.