Male homosexuality: a study of psychological characteristics and of social and family background

Bindemann, Sidney (1981) Male homosexuality: a study of psychological characteristics and of social and family background. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare male homosexuals and heterosexuals on a wide range of well-defined, psychological and c social variables. Fieldwork was carried out, partly in Glasgow special clinics and 'employed' compliant male homosexuals, attending for the treatment of venereal and other sexually-acquised diseases. In order to identify and to assess their typicality or otherwise, when compared with male homosexuals generally, it was necessary to recruit a representative sample of the latter population, in fact by courtesy and with the cooperation of the Scottish Minorities Group's organization. The decision to involve homosexual special clinic attenders, necessitated similar recruitment of male heterosexual special clinic patients and heterosexual non-patient control subjects. The deployment of this strategy facilitated the following comparisons:-
1. Male homosexuals attending a special clinic (or with a history of such attendance) with, male homosexuals possessing no such history of clinic attendance.
2. Male heterosexual special clinic patients, with male heterosexuals drawn from the normal population.
3. Male homosexual special clinic attenders, with male heterosexual special clinic patient subjects and
4. Members of the male homosexual special clinic patient group, with members of their male heterosexual special clinic patient counterparts.
The overall number of subjects who successfully participated in this study was 617.
Major published reports relating to, a) aetiological theories of homosexuality, b) personality and homosexuality, c) homosexuality and special clinic attendance and d) other systematic studies which have previously been carried out are all extensively reviewed. This first part of the thesis is used as the basis for and to generate testable hypotheses which thereafter, are stated formally under the following headings; "family and domestic", "educational and occupational", "sexual", "social and psychological", "psychiatric", and "other behavioural".
A 'battery' of self-report questionnaires and a structured interview schedule were devised specifically for the purpose of this study. Other well-known and validated self report questionnaires and inventories were also included in the overall 'package' of survey instruments. The data which were obtained by these means were subjected to the appropriate form of statistical computation and analyses. In particular and where it was appropriate, correlation matrices were computed in the process of subjecting raw data to principal components and factor analysis. In such cases, factor-scores were then computed as the basis of comparison for all groups previously referred to.
Ensuing results are set out and discussed within the context of the study's declared aim and purpose and with particular reference to specific hypotheses, under the headings also previously referred to. In summary terms, the following conclusions are drawn:-
1. Members of the two homosexual groups are shown essentially to belong to the same population. There is evidence of greater semi promiscuity among special clinic patient subjects, as well as of discordance in relation to specific "educational and occupational" variables. The "one population" thesis is consistently confirmed by the very high level of support for hypotheses relating to "sexual" and "other behavioural" variables and by evidence of comparability on variables relating to personality and psychiatric morbidity.
The decision to investigate the typicality or otherwise, of male heterosexual special clinic patients, as members of the wider heterosexual population, is well justified. It is clear from the results which are here reported that members of the former group do differ in a number of important respects from male heterosexuals as a whole, however, attention is drawn to the relative smallness of the latter sample which came about for reasons which were outwith the study's ability or power to control.
Comparison between male homosexuals and heterosexuals is inhibited by the relative paucity of data referred to above. However, important differences between the two special clinic populations do emerge and from these data it is apparent that failure to enjoy sexual activity and in consequence, to experience feelings of guilt etc. is more in evidence among homosexuals. There is evidence of greater involvement in such practices as co-masterbation among homosexuals and indeed, of higher levels of sexual promiscuity generally.
Where comparison between homosexuals and heterosexual males generally, is feasible, comparability on a wide range of "family and domestic" and "personality" variables is indicated. By contrast, there is evidence of significant difference on the important variable of psychiatric morbidity, with higher levels being in evidence among the former of these two groups.
Copies of all instruments of assessment, as well as a detailed description of statistical procedures employed in the analysis of data, are included as appendices.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
• Colleges/Schools: College of Social Sciences > School of Social and Political Sciences
• Supervisor's Name: Martin, Professor F.M.
• Date of Award: 1981
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1981-86399
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 06 Nov 2026 11:28
• Last Modified: 06 Nov 2026 11:29
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.86399
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/86399