Elizabeth Moberly
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Moberly is a British research psychologist
and theologian. Moberly is the author of Homosexuality: A New Christian Ethic. It suggests several possible causes of male homosexuality
and offers a therapeutic approach to restore patients' sense of their gender identity.
She believes that a temperamental predisposition contributes, but that the primary cause of male homosexuality is the failure of boys to bond with their fathers. Moberly opposes this idea to the "domineering mother" idea in Freudian
psychoanalysis
. Moberly believes that homosexuality is a reparative drive, an attempt to repair a lack of affection from persons of the same sex.
She thinks that heterosexual "male bonding
" is similar to homosexual desire
but lacks a sexual element. Building on this idea, proponents of reparative therapy work to build non-sexual bonds between men. They aim to increase a subject's feeling of masculinity and thereby lessen homosexual desires.
Moberly was involved in ministry to homosexuals as Director of Psychosexual Education and Therapy for BCM International. She subsequently became involved in cancer research
.
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
and theologian. Moberly is the author of Homosexuality: A New Christian Ethic. It suggests several possible causes of male homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
and offers a therapeutic approach to restore patients' sense of their gender identity.
She believes that a temperamental predisposition contributes, but that the primary cause of male homosexuality is the failure of boys to bond with their fathers. Moberly opposes this idea to the "domineering mother" idea in Freudian
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
. Moberly believes that homosexuality is a reparative drive, an attempt to repair a lack of affection from persons of the same sex.
She thinks that heterosexual "male bonding
Male bonding
Male bonding is a term that is used in ethology, social science, and in general usage to describe patterns of friendship and/or cooperation in men...
" is similar to homosexual desire
Sexual attraction
Sexual attractiveness or sex appeal refers to an individual's ability to attract the sexual or erotic interest of another person, and is a factor in sexual selection or mate choice. The attraction can be to the physical or other qualities or traits of a person, or to such qualities in the context...
but lacks a sexual element. Building on this idea, proponents of reparative therapy work to build non-sexual bonds between men. They aim to increase a subject's feeling of masculinity and thereby lessen homosexual desires.
Moberly was involved in ministry to homosexuals as Director of Psychosexual Education and Therapy for BCM International. She subsequently became involved in cancer research
Cancer research
Cancer research is basic research into cancer in order to identify causes and develop strategies for prevention, diagnosis, treatments and cure....
.
External links
- Moberly, Elizabeth, Book Review: Theological Ethics, The Expository Times, Vol. 94, No 10 (1983): 314.