Sexual identity: Conflict and confusion in a male adolescent

Abstract

This paper presents a conceptual formulation, derived from developmental object relations theory and ego psychology, of the passage in male adolescence that culminates with the achievement of a masculine heterosexual identity. Themes of psychosexuality, male gender attributes, masculinity and object preference, and sexual orientation are discussed with reference to the adolescent stage. Finally, the critical tasks, core conflicts, and internalizations of prior developmental stages, as well as the integration that is required of adolescence proper relative to a sexual identity as heterosexual and masculine, are highlighted through an extensive case illustration of an adolescent male with sexual identity confusion.A vast literature exists on the subject of identity confusion in adolescence as does considerable developmental theory to explain the clinical features of these disorders. Identity confusion has been addressed relative to object relations capacities (

Not Always a Straight Path: College Students’ Narratives of Heterosexual Identity Development

“…Men's higher scores on sexual identity commitment are in concordance with theory purporting that men experience especially strict requirements to assert and maintain a heterosexual identity (Kimmel and Messner 2004;Lucente 1996). Regarding the lack of gender differences in sexual identity exploration, it is possible that the statements within the MoSIEC are broad enough to obscure nuanced differences in how men and women do engage in sexual identity exploration.…”

“…Indeed, women were more likely to report active exploration either with or without commitment. These gender differences may be due to the threats to masculinity prompted by socially transgressive sexual acts (Lucente 1996), which may exert greater pressure on men to foreclose on a heterosexual identity than women. These findings also correspond to research identifying that a great percentage of young women report having thought about or questioned their sexual orientation (Morgan et al 2010;Morgan and Thompson 2011), which is representative of active exploration.…”

“…In describing their model, Worthington et al (2002) recognize pervasive gender-based expectations across dimensions of heterosexuality. For example, societal homonegativity structures male gender role expectations around the need to assert one's heterosexuality (and conversely avoid the perception of being gay) with the result of equating masculinity with early and frequent (hetero)sexual contact (Kimmel and Messner 2004;Lucente 1996). On the other hand, women's gender role expectations offer extensive limitations on appropriate sexual contact but also potentially allow for more flexibility in sexual orientation exploration (Diamond 2008).…”

“…In the United States, the invisibility of heterosexuality is especially striking for men, for whom heterosexuality is mandated from a young age through rigid masculine gender roles (Frankel 2005;Kimmel 1996; Kimmel and Messner 2004). Because masculinity is sustained through heterosexual expression, explorations of alternative sexualities are considered socially transgressive acts (e.g., Lucente 1996). Feminist scholars have also recognized the systematic social and economic advantages women gain through heterosexual relations that establish its compulsory nature (Wilkinson and Kitzinger 1993;Rich 1980;Richardson 1996).…”

The Perverse Rise of Sexual Orientation Identity Conflict in the Neo Liberal Order: A Critical Perspective

“…The measurement of sexual identity conflict was conducted using the Sexual Identity Conflict Assessment -Adult (SEICO-A) a model developed in this study for LGBT and non LGBTs to measure specific items. It builds on Munter (1976), Lucente (1996) andField Survey,(2015).It is composed of six items namely sexual orientation , perception on homosexuality , tolerance of homosexuality , willingness of disclosure of sexual orientation , experience of hate crimes, the general social desirability of self-sexual identity. The Confluence Model of Sexual Aggression (Malamuth, 1995) was equally explored.…”