Psychology and gender dysphoria: Beyond queer ideology

Abstract

Gender dysphoria in childhood and adolescence is currently more under the domain of queer ideology than within scientific and professional knowledge. This dominance of ideology translates into important practical consequences such as self-determination of gender identity based on sentiment and affirmative therapy of felt identity as the only acceptable option. As a result, psychological aspects are left out of evaluation, and pharmaco-surgical transitions are undertaken that do not solve the problem for everyone. In particular, there is the new phenomenon of those who regret having changed their gender and detransitioners who would like to reverse the process. The health professions, including psychology, as well as psychiatry and pediatrics, should demand the same scientific and professional standards for gender dysphoria that they apply to other problems, starting with exploration, evaluation, functional analysis, diagnosis, prudence, and attentive waiting, instead of simply adopting affirmative therapy without question.

Keywords

• rapid-onset gender dysphoria
• queer ideology
• affirmative therapy
• detransitioners
• watchful waiting