Stage 1: Sensitization
Occurs: Before Puberty
Characterized By: Feeling different “for some reason” from peers.
Results: Individual begins to make adjustments and view self in an atypical manner.
Movement to Next Stage: If individual is unable to maintain or reclaim a congruent identity at this stage, movement to the next stage occurs.
- Feelings of differentness are usually associated with “gender” rather than “sex” at this age.
- Children usually experience teasing or negative labeling for cross-gender traits (“sissies” or “tomboys”, etc.)
Stage 2: Identity Confusion
Occurs: In adolescence as individuals begin to label some behaviors as Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual.
Characterized By: Feelings of differentness becoming more associated with sexuality.
Results: Stagnation as a closeted individual or movement towards acceptance of self.
Movement to Next Stage: If individual is unable to maintain or reclaim a congruent identity at this stage, movement to the next stage occurs.
- Individuals begin to feel that there may not be an identity category for them.
- Feelings of sexuality are difficult to accept as they may be dissimilar to those felt by majority of peers.
- Teasing and harassment may continue.
- Strategy to cope with confusion may take one or more of four different forms:
- Denial – Simply deny feelings and impulses.
- Avoidance – Staying away situations and people where these feeling may come up.
- Repair – Active work to try and appear Straight to self and others.
- Compartmentalization – Maintaining level that it is only my sexuality.
- Acceptance – Integrate feelings and impulses as being part of the self.
This is the most difficult stage.
Stage 3: Identity Assumption
Occurs: Early Adulthood
Characterized By: Less feelings of social and personal isolation.
Results: Greater integration of the self with sexual identity.
Movement to Next Stage: Need for even more congruence and a feeling of wholeness.
- Stability in family and friends is important in this stage as individuals begin to experiment in Being Out.
- Typical problems at this stage are isolation and rejection and abandonment from family/friends.
- AIDS has had the effect of delaying identity integration because of the irrational fear associated between AIDS and being Gay, Lesbian or Bisexual.
- Management of stigma is important at this stage and may be accomplished in one or more of three ways:
- Capitulation – Believes negative stereotypes, but still claims membership of the community.
- Passing – Selective concealment of one’s identity.
- Alignment – Immersion of the self in the Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual communities.
Stage 4: Commitment & Integration
Occurs: Anytime in life after the first three stages have been experienced.
Characterized By: Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual becoming a way of being rather than only a description of one’s sexual behavior.
Results: Intimate love commitment and ability to identity oneself as Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual to other individuals.
Movement to Next Stage: New situations, people, or stress due to trauma.
- Individuals experience a feeling of greater happiness and self-satisfaction.
- Management of stigma not handled through passing but by greater integration of one’s sexuality with one’s identity.
These Stages are crossed and re-crossed many times throughout one’s life.
- Movement, experiences, and age of onset in these stages can differ depending on whether one is Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual.
- There is a growing transgender movement that this model does not necessarily encompass.
- This is a continual and cyclical model.
From: Troiden, R.R (1989). The formation of homosexual identities. Journal of Homosexuality, 17, (1/2), 43-73).
(The original text is not inclusive of people who are Bisexual and has been adapted for the current text.)
Compiled by: Barry A. Schreier, Ph. D.
