Charles Socarides and his followers' theories revolve around his belief that "Homosexuality is based on the fear of the mother, the aggressive attack against the father, and is filled with aggression, destruction and self-deceit". [Robert Spitzer, quoted in Bayer, p.36] According to Socarides, "almost half of those who engage in homosexual practices have a concomitant schizophrenia, paranoia, or latent or pseudoneurotic schizophrenia, or are in the throes of a manic-depressive reaction". [Bayer, page 35]. Socarides developed an elaborate 'cure' based on these theories and claimed a success rate of greater than 50%. [Bayer, p.37]
Interestingly, Charles Socarides was never able to change the sexual orientation of his son, Richard. Richard became a gay rights attorney, worked in the Clinton administration, and went from there to head the corporate communications division of New Line Cinema. |