� Sexual identities are fundamentally social in origin
� Believes only small percentage of people who experienced feelings of homosexually assume gay or lesbian identities
� Process is like a horizontal spiral. Stages occur �back-and-fourth, up-and-down, and develops within a climate of stigmatization�
Stage 1: Sensitization
Stage one occurs before puberty happens. Individuals experience feelings of being different from same-sex peer group. Feelings of sexual interest in same sex peers may appear.
Stage 2: Identity Confusion
This stage occurs by middle to late adolescence. Individuals in this stage experience uncertainty and turmoil about sexual identity. He or she begins having feelings of homosexuality. This stage may last from a month, a year, or in some cases it may last permanently. Factors that may contribute to the confusion are:
1. Altered perceptions of self, he or she feels that they are sexually different
2. Experiences of heterosexual and homosexual arousal and behavior
3. Feelings of secrecy, guilt, and yearning to be in communication with other gay and lesbian people emerges
4. Gain inaccurate information regarding homosexuals and homosexuality
Stage 3: Identity Assumption
This stage occurs during or after late adolescence. A feeling of being �lesbian� or �gay� becomes both a �presented identity� and self-identity. Individual becomes tolerant and accept their �gay� or �lesbian� identity. They begin to explore the lesbian or gay subculture and associates with other gay or lesbian people. The contact they make with the gay or lesbian community may also neutralize their feeling of guilt. For many, stage three represents acceptance of themselves as gay or lesbian.
Stage 4: Commitment
Individuals in this stage accept and are comfortable with their gay or lesbian identity. This stage has two dimensions, internal and external.
1. Internal: the definition of gay or lesbian is not merely just a form a behavior, but is a way of life or a state of being. Individuals expressed a sense of comfort and satisfaction with their identity.
2. External: Individuals enter same-sex relationships and is open about their identity to non-gays.
Viviane Cass Model of Sexual Identity formation
Stage 1: Identity Confusion
Individuals become conscious of thoughts, behaviors or feelings of homosexuality. He or she starts to question themselves and their sexuality. If they accept these feelings of homosexuality and sexuality then they will move in to Stage 2.
Stage 2: Identity Comparison
Some refer to this stage as the �rationalization or bargaining stage where the person have thoughts such as � I may be a homosexual, but then again I may be bisexual,� �Maybe this is just temporary,� or �My feelings of attraction are simply for just one other person of my own sex and this a special case.� Individual may also think they are the only one in the world going through this dilemma. If the individual faces negative experiences then this may lead to foreclosure or lack or further development, but if positive experiences occur then increase contact with the homosexual community continues. However, individuals will still have a public image of being a heterosexual.
Stage 3: Identity Tolerance
Individuals in this stage become more comfortable with their sexuality. They begin to make more contact with other homosexuals to relieve the feelings of loneliness and alienation, but still feel a sense of tolerance for the gay or lesbian community not acceptance. Also, people in this stage also feel a strong sense of distance from heterosexuals.
Stage 4: Identity Acceptance
Individuals continue and increase communication with gay or lesbian community. In many cases friendships begin to form. He or she begins to accept rather than tolerate a lesbian or gay self-image because of the formation of positive views and opinions of gays and lesbians. Answers to questions such as �Who am I?� and �Where do I belong?� have been answered. Individuals in this stage are selective in their disclosure about being a gay or lesbian person.
Stage 5: Identity Pride
Individuals in this stage begin to feel anger at heterosexuals because there is still a conflict between self-perceptions and others� perceptions. Also, he or she begins to disclose their sexual identity to more and more people and wishes to be immersed in the gay or lesbian subculture. For some, this stage represents an emergence of an activist stage.
Stage 6: Identity Synthesis
Feelings of frustration in Stage 5 begin to subside. Individuals start to believe that both homosexual and heterosexual may share the same values. A lesbian and gay identity becomes an integral and integrated aspect of the individual�s complete personality structure.
The theories were found on the following resources:
Adolescence, Sexual Orientation & Identity An Overview
Religion & Spirituality Curriculum Books Articles Videos FAQs Additional Links