Classical, avoidance and backward conditioning treatments of homosexuality.

The article cites a study which found that there is no significant difference in efficacy between classical therapy, avoidance therapy and backward conditioning therapy in the treatment of homosexuality. The aim of the study is to know the efficacy of the three kinds of aversion therapy in treating homosexual patients. Forty-six homosexual patients were shown a film which contains pictures of nude women preceded by pictures of a red circle and of nude men preceded by a green triangle. The penile volume and galvanic skin responses were measured. The study covered that backward conditioning was not less effective than the other two types of aversion therapy, supporting the contention that the classical and avoidance therapy does not act by setting up conditioned reflexes.