Journal article
Brave new love: The threat of high-tech “conversion” therapy and the bio-oppression of sexual minorities
- Abstract:
- Our understanding of the neurochemical bases of human love and attachment, as well as of the genetic, epigenetic, hormonal, and experiential factors that conspire to shape an individual's sexual orientation, is increasing exponentially. This research raises the vexing possibility that we may one day be equipped to modify such variables directly, allowing for the creation of "high-tech" conversion therapies or other suspect interventions. In this article, we discuss the ethics surrounding such a possibility, and call for the development of legal and procedural safeguards for protecting vulnerable children from the application of such technology. We also consider the more difficult case of voluntary, adult "conversion" and argue that in rare cases, such attempts might be permissible under strict conditions.
- Publication status:
- Published
- Peer review status:
- Peer reviewed
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- Files:
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(Preview, Version of record, pdf, 101.5KB, Terms of use)
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- Publisher copy:
- 10.1080/21507740.2013.863242
Authors
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Journal:
- AJOB Neuroscience More from this journal
- Volume:
- 5
- Issue:
- 1
- Pages:
- 4-12
- Publication date:
- 2014-01-30
- DOI:
- EISSN:
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2150-7759
- ISSN:
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2150-7740
- Pmid:
-
24587962
- Language:
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English
- Keywords:
- Pubs id:
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450198
- Local pid:
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pubs:450198
- Deposit date:
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2022-02-21
- ARK identifier:
Terms of use
- Copyright holder:
- Earp et al.
- Copyright date:
- 2014
- Rights statement:
- Copyright Brian D. Earp, Anders Sandberg, and Julian Savulescu. This is an open access article published under CC BY 4.0.
- Licence:
- CC Attribution (CC BY)
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