Did you know that in the 1970's UCLA ran "The Feminine Boy project" An aversion therapy and

[Douglas Carpenter]

behaviorist program to change effeminate boys into masculine boys with the belief that it would prevent homosexuality?

Therapy to change 'feminine' boy created a troubled man, family says

By Scott Bronstein and Jessi Joseph, CNN

Wanting a 'normal life'

The study, later published in an academic journal, concludes that after therapy, "Kraig's" feminine behavior was gone and he became "indistinguishable from any other boy."

At one table Kirk could choose between what were considered masculine toys like plastic guns and handcuffs, and what were meant to be feminine toys like dolls and a play crib. At the other table, Kirk could choose between boys' clothing and a toy electric razor or items like dress-up jewelry and a wig.

According to the case study, Kaytee Murphy was told to ignore her son when he played with feminine toys and compliment him when he played with masculine toys.

"They pretty much told him he wasn't right the way that he was, but they never really explained it to him what the issue was. They did it through play," Maris said.

At home, the punishment for feminine behavior would become more severe. The therapists instructed Kirk's parents to use poker chips as a system of rewards and punishments.

According to Rekers' case study, blue chips were given for masculine behavior and would bring rewards, such as candy. But the red chips, given for effeminate behavior, resulted in "physical punishment by spanking from the father."

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/06/07/sissy.boy.experiment/

This is truly a chilling article. I should mention the boy in this story who was sent to this UCLA program committed suicide in his at the age of 38.

[Douglas Carpenter]

1. at home under the UCLA doctor's instuctions/candy for masculine behavior harsh beatings for feminine

behavior:

Harsh beatings

At home, the punishment for feminine behavior would become more severe. The therapists instructed Kirk's parents to use poker chips as a system of rewards and punishments.

According to Rekers' case study, blue chips were given for masculine behavior and would bring rewards, such as candy. But the red chips, given for effeminate behavior, resulted in "physical punishment by spanking from the father."

Mark said he was told to participate in the chip reward-and-punishment system as a way to make Kirk feel like the system was OK.

The family said the spankings were severe. Maris remembers "lots of belt incidents." She escaped the screaming by going to her bed to "lay in the room with my pillow on my head." Later, she would go to Kirk's bedroom and "lay down and hug him and we would just lay there, and the thing that I remember is that he never even showed anger. He was just numb."

I only meant to help, do the best I could with the parents.

--Dr. George Rekers

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/06/07/sissy.boy.experiment/

[valerief]

2. Sounds like they might be running a Killer Cop program these days. nt

[shenmue]

3. Good Lord

[etherealtruth]

4. OMG .... this is so horrifying

I don't know what else to say ... I am simply horrified

[Douglas Carpenter]

5. It is almost unbelievable, isn't it? We are not talking about the 1920's. We are talking about the

hip 70's.

[daredtowork]

6. Psychology under Medi-Cal is still called Behavioral Therapy

And their claim to expertise is to teach various "social skills" even though they don't know what they are doing most of the time, and it's hit or miss whether the patient will even get a tolerable therapist.

I find the idea of Behavioral modification to be the most undignified approach to psychological treatment imaginable. I doubt any of the health plans targeted at wealthy consumers would call psychological services that. They would instead emphasize "counseling", "life coaching", and "well being". Perhaps "alternative medicine" for pain. But no, we would not apply BEHAVIORAL MODIFICATION to the rich. We would only implement that against poor people, who are in poverty because they are making bad decisions, not because they are are constantly forced to respond to overwhelmingly stressful and often absurd circumstances. Maybe a little SOCIAL CIRCUMSTANCE MODIFICATION would turn out to be more effective as well as more humane...?

[Odin2005]

10. The long shadow of Behaviorism still infects Psychology.

[Douglas Carpenter]

11. unfortunately yes, in fact I came across this article when researching about ABA -

Applied Behavior Analysis - one of the most common techniques of dealing with autism. The same behaviorist at UCLA who were founding fathers of ABA for autism where also involved with the feminine boy project. Back then they would give electro-shocks to five and six year old autistic children to try to avert them from acting autistic. This almost sounds like Dr. Josef Mengele stuff.

http://www.sentex.net/~nexus23/naa_aba.html

This is a link to a very important paper written by a woman on the ASD spectrum, which comprehensively details the issues and history of behavioural "treatment" of ASD children, and the person who started the idea that physical punishment cures autism - Professor Ivor Lovas.

[Odin2005]

12. As an autistic person ABA makes me sick.

[Douglas Carpenter]

14. of course - but many groups like Autism Speak sing its praises - but these are organizations

Last edited Sun Dec 7, 2014, 02:50 AM - Edit history (1)

that do not have any actual autistic people in their hierarchy

[AverageJoe90]

7. Hard to believe this happened in California......in the Seventies.

And no, this was NOT really okay, even then(although some truly brazen hardcore conservatives will outright deny this)......and yet, it still happens even today! But I'm afraid that this is yet just another outgrowth of the sad history of reactionary social thinking in this country, from the Fire-Eaters of the 1850s Deep South to the Teabaggers today.

[olddots]

8. read up on it 1972 was the year that the so called mental health profession

Decided gays and lesbians weren't mentally ill .....hard to believe and this was the whole country .

[Odin2005]

9. Homosexuality was officially a mental illness until 1974 when the DSM-III came out.

Transgenderism is STILL considered a mental illness under the DSM-5 ("Gender Dysphoria&quot .

I'm going into the field and the ignorance and bigotry so many psychologists still have is shocking.

[Douglas Carpenter]

13. well, yes I can say for sure that there are many psychologist who don't know very basic things about

their own field

[Trillo]

15. It is so important for the smart, educated people to get to kids when they're young,

and "mold their minds." It's rather curious that this guy was a founding member of the Family Research Council.

Perhaps "pursuit of happiness", for some people, means the act of committing suicide successfully. From our perspective, perhaps it is best understood as an end to their suffering.

[Douglas Carpenter]

16. kik