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    A Quick Guide to the Cass Theory of Lesbian & Gay Identity Formation
    A Quick Guide to the Cass Theory of Lesbian & Gay Identity Formation
    A Quick Guide to the Cass Theory of Lesbian & Gay Identity Formation
    Ebook85 pages39 minutes

    A Quick Guide to the Cass Theory of Lesbian & Gay Identity Formation

    By Vivienne Cass Ph.D.

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    About this ebook

    The Cass theory of lesbian and gay identity formation is well-known to those who work in the field of sexual orientation. Since it was first published over forty-five years ago it continues to form the basis of research studies, provide counsellors and therapists with a framework for helping them to work effectively with lesbian and gay clients, and to be part of training programs for health professionals. Increasingly it is being applied in developing countries as these absorb Western ideas about sexual orientation.
    Although the Cass theory was presented over several articles and provides a multifaceted theoretical framework, many have narrowed their focus to its central idea, namely that the process of acquiring an identity of ‘lesbian’ or ‘gay’ can be viewed as a series of six stages. When this occurs, the process of identity formation is often disconnected from the larger theoretical and epistemological context in which it sits, leading to inaccuracies in the way the theory is interpreted.
    Mindful of this problem, and also of the difficulty some international professionals and students of her theory have in accessing academic materials, Dr Cass has written A Quick Guide to the Cass Theory of Lesbian & Gay Identity Formation as a snapshot of her theory. In this short book she provides an overview of the theory, integrating, for the first time, all the different facets of her theory that have previously been dispersed throughout various publications. The source material is clearly identified so that readers can go to these references in order to obtain the full account of Dr Cass’ theory. As such it is an excellent resource for researchers, educators and health professionals, whether they are new to the theory or simply wish to confirm their understanding of it. As a bonus, Dr Cass also offers some new insights by addressing the various critiques of her theory and providing her response to each of these.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherVivienne Cass Ph.D.
    Release dateOct 1, 2015
    ISBN9780975077726
    A Quick Guide to the Cass Theory of Lesbian & Gay Identity Formation
    Author

    Vivienne Cass Ph.D.

    Dr Vivienne Cass is a consultant clinical psychologist and specialist in human sexuality, who currently holds the position of Adjunct Associate Professor in the School of Public Health (Sexology Program) at Curtin University in Western Australia.Her work in the area of sexual orientation emerged in the 1970s when she first began to develop her theory of homosexual identity formation. This theory was published in the Journal of Homosexuality in 1979. Based on this article, she was awarded the Theory Development Award from the Gay Academic Union of America (1979) and was nominated as a finalist for the Hugo Beigel Research Award offered by the Journal of Sex Research (1981). A number of other journal articles and book chapters followed this original article, further expounding the theory. Over the last thirty-five years, the theory has been cited consistently in research, used by health practitioners in their work with clients and taught by educators in the health and counselling fields. Dr Cass continues to engage in discussions on the topic of lesbian and gay identity formation with colleagues and students around the globe.Dr Cass is also the author of two other BOOKS, The Elusive Orgasm: A woman's guide to why she can't and how she can orgasm (now in 7 languages) and There's More to Sex than AIDS: The A to Z Guide to Safe Sex (now out of print). She is the creator of a sex education APP, Explore Women's Sex, the first to be listed in the AppStore and has produced a set of sex EDUCATION POSTERS called The Illustrated Clitoris.She also lectures in sexual therapy, presents conference papers, examines graduate theses, supervises other health professionals, reviews journal papers, mentors students and clinicians and provides media interviews. Dr Cass is currently working on a new theory in the area of attractions.

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      Book preview

      A Quick Guide to the Cass Theory of Lesbian & Gay Identity Formation - Vivienne Cass Ph.D.

      A Quick Guide to the Cass Theory

      A Quick Guide to the Cass Theory of Lesbian & Gay Identity Formation

      Vivienne Cass, Ph.D.

      Ph.D., M.Psych., B.Psych., Teach.Cert., Dip.Sch.Mus., MAPS

      A Quick Guide to the

      Cass Theory of Lesbian & Gay Identity Formation

      Copyright © 2015 by Vivienne Cass, Ph.D.

      Smashwords Edition

      Brightfire Press

      (SAN 9023174)

      PO Box 1127, Bentley DC

      Western Australia 6983

      www.brightfire.com.au

      All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher, except by reviewers who may quote brief excerpts in connection with a review in a newspaper, magazine or electronic publication; nor may any part of this book be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or other, without written permission from the publisher.

      National Library of Australia

      Cataloguing-in-Publication Entry

      Cass, Vivienne, author

      A quick guide to the Cass theory of lesbian & gay

      identity formation / Vivienne Cass, Ph.D.

      ISBN: 9780975077726 (ebook)

      Lesbians–Identity.

      Gays–Identity.

      Sexual orientation.

      Identity (Psychology).

      Cognitive psychology.

      155.33

      Cover Design by Shelley Glasow, Goodlife Guide

      Formatting by Shelley Glasow, Goodlife Guide

      In memory of my sister, Shelley.

      Previous Books by Vivienne Cass

      There’s More To Sex Than AIDS: The A to Z Guide to Safe Sex

      The Elusive Orgasm: A Woman’s Guide to Why She Can’t and How She Can Orgasm

      Contents

      Acknowledgments

      Preface: why the need for a quick guide

      Using the Quick Guide

      Chapter 1. Developing the theory

      Background

      History

      Research

      Chapter 2. The theory’s epistemological base

      Social constructionist psychology

      Dynamic interaction process

      Negotiated interpersonal relationships

      Other distinguishing features of Cass’ theory

      Psychology of knowledge

      Indigenous psychologies

      Sexual knowledge

      Cognitive schemas

      Chapter 3. Definition of identity formation process

      Chapter 4. Motivational factors

      Motivation to engage in identity formation

      Interpersonal congruency theory

      Chapter 5. Definition of Identity

      Conceptual framework

      Homosexual identity as typological identity

      Distinctions between presented, perceived and sexual identities

      Chapter 6. Stages of Identity Formation

      Stage descriptions

      Pre-stage 1

      Stage 1: Identity Confusion

      Stage 2: Identity Comparison

      Stage 3: Identity Tolerance

      Stage 4: Identity Acceptance

      Stage 5: Identity Pride

      Stage 6: Identity Synthesis

      Chapter 7. Stage Allocation Measure

      Chapter 8. Critique of theory

      Linearity of stages

      Experiences of women

      Stage 6 as the end-point

      Individuals at Stage 6 as more mature

      Relevance of theory

      Chapter 9. Time to expand our thinking

      Chapter 10. Implications for counselling and therapy

      Counselling guidelines

      References

      Acknowledgments

      Special thanks to Dr Rebecca Roberts who highlighted the need for this book and generously applied her intellect and computer literacy skills towards its completion. Her support and care are greatly appreciated.

      I am also grateful to the many researchers, educators, counsellors and clinicians who continue to let me know that my theory offers them guidance in understanding and supporting those people who are engaged in the process of identifying as lesbian or gay. I especially want to extend my appreciation to the professionals and students in developing countries whose application of the theory to their work and studies has forged new ground in these cultures, often amidst cultural opposition and homophobic attitudes.

      About The Author

      Dr Vivienne Cass is a consultant clinical psychologist and specialist in human sexuality, who currently

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