Article 22: Analysis of the Causes of Homosexuality and Methods of Psychological Correction

The origins of homosexuality

If a couple, for some reason, raises their son as a girl, dressing him in girls' clothes, giving him girls' toys, and shaping him with female behavioral patterns, he is likely to experience gender role confusion, identifying as a girl and exhibiting feminine behavior. Others live in an environment dominated by the opposite sex, with elders and peers all of the opposite sex. Observing and imitating behaviors of the opposite sex can also lead to skewed behavioral patterns and gender role confusion. Many girls and men labeled "tomboyish" or "effeminate" are prone to homosexuality. Homosexuality is more often related to adverse early childhood environments and upbringing. All patients had adverse early environments and a lack of sex education; 20.6% were raised as the opposite sex from childhood, 17% had a dominant mother in the family, and 62% lived in an environment dominated by the opposite sex for an extended period.

Homosexuality correction

(1) First, a consensus must be reached with the patient that homosexuality violates social customs; it can only bring negative impacts to the family and society, and in severe cases, the patient will also be punished; it is a perverted sexual behavior that is also very harmful to the patient's physical and mental health. Only when the patient is willing to change can the correction be effective.

(2) Help patients analyze the reasons for their homosexuality. If it is caused by an unfavorable early growth environment, help patients understand the impact of this environmental factor on their gender identity, so as to gradually correct the erroneous gender identity.

(3) Behavioral therapy. Aversion therapy can be used, which involves giving the patient unpleasant stimuli (such as electric shocks or induced vomiting) when they experience homosexual impulses, so as to form a conditioned reflex and gradually eliminate the sexual impulses towards the same sex.

(4) Cultivate interest in the opposite sex. Encourage patients to have normal interactions with the opposite sex, participate in mixed-gender social activities, and gradually establish normal feelings and sexual desire towards the opposite sex.

(5) Family and social support. Family and friends should offer understanding and support to patients, rather than discrimination and exclusion. They should also help patients establish a healthy lifestyle, cultivate a wide range of interests, and divert their attention.

Common mental health problems at different stages of life

1. Somnambulism

Somnambulism, also known as sleepwalking, was once called "sleepwalking disorder," but electroencephalography (EEG) studies later confirmed that it is unrelated to dreams. It usually occurs within 1-3 hours of falling asleep. During an attack, the child opens their eyes, stares, sits up, and gets out of bed to move around. They generally do not trip or fall, and sometimes can perform more complex tasks such as sweeping or pouring water. After a few minutes to half an hour, they return to bed to sleep or wake up crying in the dark. The patient usually cannot recall what happened while they were asleep.

Strictly speaking, sleepwalking falls under the category of consciousness content disorder. Approximately 15% of children aged 5-12 experience this phenomenon, with 1%-6% of them experiencing persistent sleepwalking. It is more common in boys than girls. This phenomenon usually resolves spontaneously with age.

Some consider it a type of epilepsy because distinctive EEG waveforms often precede somnambulism. Mental stress, fatigue, and conflicting emotions can also cause somnambulism. Therefore, if a child exhibits somnambulism, epilepsy should be ruled out first, followed by determining its severity. If necessary, sleep patterns should be altered, and neurotrophic agents may be used, along with tranquilizers.

2. Withdrawal behavior

Children exhibiting withdrawal behavior often display timidity, fear, loneliness, and withdrawal. They are unwilling to interact with strangers or play with other children. They show a lack of curiosity and desire to explore new things they have never encountered before. Due to their reluctance to interact with others, many spend their days alone with toys and books.

Withdrawal behavior severely restricts a child's world. Growing up in a confined space is undoubtedly detrimental to their physical and mental development. Due to a lack of exercise and opportunities to gain social experience and maturity, their personality development is affected, and their ability to adapt to society declines.

Improving the educational environment and providing psychological therapy are the main ways to prevent and treat withdrawal behaviors in children. First, it's crucial to improve the child's home environment. The root cause of withdrawal behavior often lies in the parents' attitude towards their child. Children should neither be overly indulgent nor overly harsh. Parents should show them more care and patience, guiding them from a young age to enjoy interacting with others and cultivating a positive, enthusiastic, lively, and cheerful personality. During therapy, parents must be patient and encourage even the smallest progress. They should patiently cultivate the child's adaptability to the environment and help them build good relationships with other children. Therapy should not be rushed; it should be gradual, gradually increasing the child's interactions with other children.

If the child's problem is serious, specialized psychotherapy or medication may be necessary.

Among various psychotherapies, systematic desensitization and play therapy are frequently used to treat withdrawal behaviors in children. The basic idea of ​​systematic desensitization is to combine a stimulus that induces mild anxiety with a relaxed state, gradually eliminating the anxiety response. Play therapy, on the other hand, allows children to express their inner feelings and conflicts through play, thus providing therapeutic support during the play process.

3. Selective mutism

Selective mutism is a psychological disorder in which children refuse to speak in certain situations (such as at school) but speak normally in other situations (such as at home). This disorder mostly occurs in children aged 3 to 7, with slightly more girls than boys.

Correction and Treatment

Selective mutism in children is a psychological disorder reflecting an underdeveloped personality. Therefore, the fundamental way to prevent selective mutism in children is to pay attention to cultivating their personality in daily life. Overindulgence and protection of children will prevent them from developing their willpower, making them timid and dependent. Therefore, it is necessary to provide children with, or even artificially create, some challenging situations. In these challenging situations, children can learn how to face and overcome difficulties, and in the process, their character becomes stronger.

Selective mutism patients can generally recover, and some of them can be cured without treatment.

The treatment for this disease is primarily psychological. Supportive therapy and behavioral therapy are commonly used in clinical practice.

Supportive therapy involves patiently listening to the child's account, offering encouragement, explanation, and reassurance to alleviate their worries and fears. It also involves encouraging them to adapt to and cope with their environment in new ways, helping them overcome psychological resistance, and striving to improve the emotional atmosphere around them. Appropriate arrangements should be made for the child's living and learning environment, encouraging participation in group activities such as games or outings to gradually reduce anxiety and restore their speech function.