CULTURE

Psychiatry Professor:
Transgenderism Is Mass
Hysteria Similar To 1980s-Era
Junk Science
Themovementsphilosophyqualiiesitasapopulardelusionsimilartothemultiplepersonalitycraze,and
thesatanicritualabuseandrecoveredmemoryhysteriasofthe1980sand90s.

Considertheremarkablephenomenonoftransgenderism.Adisorderofgenderidentitythat
aflictsaminusculenumberofAmericanshasbecomeapolarizingculturalcausecelebre.Its
inluenceincapturingpublicattentionanddemandingsocialchangehasbeen
extraordinary,outofallproportiontothenumbersofthegenderdissatisied.

Whilethepoliticallefthasfullyembracedthetransgenderagendaasacivilrightopposedby
onlythebigotedandhateful,manypeopleseethemovementasaconcertedattackon
traditionalsocialmoresandcustoms,aninyourfaceassaultonconventionalstandards,
practices,andmorality.

Clearly,thetransgenderphenomenonisthetipofthespearoftheLGBTmovement,greatly
energizedbytheSupremeCourtdecisiononsamesexmarriagethatincludesinthedeinition
oflibertytherightofpeopletodeineandexpresstheiridentity.FortheLGBTmovementthis
literallyincludestherighttodecideonesgender,toclaimtherightsofanalternativegender
(sincegenderismalleable,therearechoicesotherthansimplymaleorfemale),havethechoice
acknowledgedbysocietyasacivilright,andultimatelybecomeacceptedasaconventional
lifestyle.

However,transgenderismasanormativelifestylemaybeahardsell.Whilefairmindedpeople
canagreethatgaysorpeoplewithgenderconfusionshouldnotbediscriminatedagainst,the
generalpublicdoesntappeartobereadytoacceptgenderassimplyasocialconstructorthat
peoplecanbewhatevergendertheychoose.Thesecontentions,theconceptualfoundationof
transgenderism,lyinthefaceofreality:thebiologicaldifferencebetweenthesexes.

The Contagion of Mass Delusion

Transgenderismwouldrefutethenaturallawsofbiologyandtransmutehumannature.The
movementsphilosophicalfoundationqualiiesitasapopulardelusionsimilartothemultiple
personalitycraze,andthewidespreadsatanicritualabuseandrecoveredmemoryhysterias
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ofthe1980sand90s.Theselasttwoinvolvedbizarreaccusationsofchildabuseandresultedin
theprosecutionandruinedlivesofthefalselyaccused.

Suchpopulardelusionsarecharacterizedbyafalsebeliefunsupportedbyanyscientiicor
empiricalevidenceandhaveacontagiousqualitythatoverridesrationalthinkingandeven
commonsense.Thisalltoohumantendencytosuspendindividualcriticaljudgmentandgo
alongwiththecrowdisgreatlyfacilitatedbysocialmedia.Mostimportant,however,thecause
hasreceivedtheimprimaturofexperts.Theverypeoplewhoshouldknowbetterhavebought
intothehysteria.Justasmentalhealthprofessionalsagenerationagosupportedthechild
abusedelusions,andevenparticipatedinprosecutingtheunjustlyaccused,sotoohavethey
fueledtheireofthetransgenderdelusion.

ThetransgendermovementwasgreatlyenergizedwhenTheAmericanPsychiatricAssociation
(APA)inits2013revisededitionoftheDiagnosticandStatisticalManualofPsychiatric
Disorders(DSM5)delistedGenderIdentityDisorderasapsychiatricdisorder,reclassifying
itasGenderDysphoria.However,ratherthanprovidingascientiicvalidationofthe
transgenderagenda,theAPAsactionwasaremarkableabrogationofprofessional
responsibilityintheinterestofpoliticalcorrectness.

Unlikemedicaldiseases,psychiatricdisordershavenodiagnosticbiologicmarkersno
physicalindings,laboratorytests,orimagingstudies.Psychiatricdiagnosesconsistofsymptom
checklistsdeterminedbycommitteeconsensus.Itshouldcomeasnosurprisethattheprocess
isexquisitelyreactivetoprevailingculturalandpoliticalwinds.Absentbiomarkersthatdeine
illnesses,thereisnoendtothementalandemotionalconditionsthatcanbecalledpsychiatric
disorders.Itcanbeextremelyproitableforanactivistspecialinterestmovementtosucceedin
gettingitscauselegitimizedasamentaldisorder,notleastforapharmaceuticalindustrypoised
toretargetpsychotropicdrugstotreatanynewmentalillness.

Activist Science Plus Relativism Equals Insanity

However,theprocessworksbothways.Psychiatricdisordersbothcomeandgoinresponseto
contemporaryculturalfadsanddeterminedspecialinterests.Forthesexualliberation
movementthepoliticaladvantagelayinhavingoffendingdisordersremoved.In1973it
succeededingettingtheAPAtoremovehomosexualityfromitslexiconofdisorderssimplyby
voteofthemembership.

Subsequentlythemovementconlatedwithpostmodern
The tragedy, of
relativism,inwhichtherearenouniversalortranscendentvalues,
course, is that
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onlysocialandculturalconventions.Thedoctrineasappliedto people suffering
genderassertsthatgendermaleorfemalesexismerelya from identity issues
socialconstruct,notabiologicfact,andsubjecttochange do not receive the
accordingtoonesdesire.Peoplecanbeofanygendertheychoose, help they need.
analternategender,orevenoptoutoftheentiregenderconstruct.

SuchwastheagendathattheAPAboughtintowhenitdroppedGenderIdentityDisorderfrom
theDSM5.However,ratherthansimplyeliminatingtheconceptofgenderidentitysince
oficiallyitwasnolongeradisorder,itcreatedanewdiagnosticclasscalledgender
dysphoria.Thiscarriedtheassaultoncommonsenseevenfurther,sincenowpsychiatrists,the
purportedexpertsondistinguishingbetweenfantasyandreality,puttheirstampofapprovalon
thetransgenderhysteria.

Onlyprelogicalchildrenandpsychoticadultsbelieveinmagicalthinking,thatwishingcan
makeitso.Yetgenderdysphoriaischaracterizedasgenderincongruence:afeelingof
dissatisfactionwithonesassigned(birth)gender,andawishtobeotherwisegendered,
makesoneadifferentperson.Toreclaimonestrue(desired)genderidentitymayrequiresex
reassignmentsurgery,atreatmentforthenewdiagnosticclassofgenderdysphoria
sanctionedbytheAPA.ThetorturousvocabularytheDSMmanufacturedtolabelthepossible
genderspectrumvariationswouldbelaughablewereitnotsotragic.

Refusing to Diagnose Withholds Needed Treatment

Thetragedy,ofcourse,isthatpeoplesufferingfromidentityissuesdonotreceivethehelpthey
need.Anorexianervosaisanotherdisordercharacterizedbyadistortionofbodyimage.
However,incontrasttothetransgendered,whoareaidedinactingoutadelusionwith
hormonesandsexreassignment,peoplewithamorbidandunrealisticperceptionof
themselvesasbeingobeseortooheavyarenotputonweightreducingdiets.Rather,anorexiais
diagnosedasapsychiatricdisorderandtreatedappropriatelywithpsychotherapy.

Anorexiaandgenderdysphoriaareamongthemanymanifestationsofpsychologicalconlict
thatmayoccurduringtheidentitycrisisofadolescence,animportantdevelopmental
milestoneinidentityformation.Itisatimeofrapidphysicalchangesandstrongsexualurges.
Genderconfusionthewishtobetheoppositesex,oreventobenosexatall(nongendered)
cansimplybeayoungpersonstemporarypauseinresolvingtheconlictbetweenthesafetyof
secureparentalattachmentsandthecompellingbutfrighteningurgesofadultsexualityand
autonomy.

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Asceticismarenunciationofsexualityandsensualpleasuresgenerally,ineffectbecoming
asexualandanhedonicisanothercopingdeviceyoungpeoplesometimesuse.Itisremarkably
similartogenderdysphoriainitspurposeofachievingatemporaryrespitefromconfusion
aboutonesemergingsexualityandanxietyaboutthedemandsofadulthood.

Thevastmajorityofsuchdefensemechanismsaretransient,usefulwhenthestormsof
adolescencearemostintense,butnolongernecessaryasamorestablesenseofselfemerges.
(Mostcommonperhapsistheadolescentidealizationofcelebrities.Thatmanyofthesepopular
iguresareandrogynousillustratesthenatureoftheseidentiicationsasarespitefromsexual
andgenderconlict.)Veryfewyoungpeoplewhodietseverelybecomelifelonganorectics.Not
manyadolescentasceticsbecomecloisteredmonks.Incontrast,somegenderdissatisied
youthsaregivenhormonesandevenundergosexreassignmentsurgery.Atransient
developmentalconlictissubjectedtolifechangingandsometimesirreversibletreatment.

Reinforcing Delusions Hurts People

Morelamentablestillistheuseofthesetreatmentsinprepubescentchildrenwhose
prelogicalthinkingblurstheboundariesbetweenfantasyandreality.Youngparentswith
concernsabouttheirchildrenneedtoseekthecounselofpeoplewithknowledgeaboutnormal
childdevelopment.Unfortunately,goodadviceissometimeshardtocomeby.Afraidofbeing
seenasbehindthetimes,ignorant,orbigoted,peoplewhoshouldknowbetterare
unwillingtorelyontheirowncommonsenseandthewisdomofgenerations.

Ifafouryearoldgirl,who,afraidofbeingdisplacedinherparents
Middle-aged men
affectionbyanewbabybrother,announcesthatsheisaboy,wise
and women who
parentsdonotbegintreatingherasaboy.Theydonotassumeshe
feel dissatisfied
istransgendered.Instead,theyembraceherandassureherthat
with their lives may
sheistheirpreciouslittlegirlwhomtheylove.Parentswhoallow
act out unrealistic
prepubescentchildrentochoosewhethertheywanttobemaleor
romantic fantasies
femalehaverelinquishedtheirroleasrationaladults,andare
in an attempt to
themselvesinneedofpsychiatricconsultation.
remake themselves.
Clearlyformingastablepersonalidentityisacomplicatedbusiness.Forsomepeopleitis
prolonged,andsomeneverachieveit.Whileadolescenceandyoungadulthoodcanbeapivotal
timeinshapingonespersonalidentity,identityissubjecttoinevitablechallengesduringthe
lifecycle,aswellastouniqueindividualstressors.

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Midlifeisachallengingtimeformanypeople.Middleagedmenandwomenwhofeel
dissatisiedwiththeirlivesmayactoutunrealisticromanticfantasiesinanattempttoremake
themselves.Oftenthisleadstothetragedyofdivorceandthedestructionoffamilies.The
transgendermovementhasfosteredthemostunrealisticfantasyimaginablethatonecan
solvewhatisalwaysamultidimensionaldissatisfactionwithonesselfbychangingonessex.

Why Some People Want to Believe Theyre Transgender

Thecharacteristicsthatdeineonespersonalidentityarethenuclearelementsofpersonality.
Peoplewithachronicallyunstableselfimage,poorselfesteem,andanilldeinedsenseofself
arepoorlyequippedtodealwiththestressesofordinarylife.Thisgroupconstitutesthevast
majorityoftheselfidentiiedtransgenderedwhoundertakethefullsexchangeregimenof
hormonetreatmentandsexreassignmentsurgery.

However,mostpeoplesufferingfromsuchcommonpersonalitydisordersdonotfocuson
genderdissatisfactionasthecauseoftheirglobaldysfunctionanddonotregardsexchangeas
theremedy.Whywouldafewpeoplewithacomplexandmultidimensionaldisorderofpersonal
identitydecidethattheirproblemconsistsinhavingbeenassignedthewrongsex?The
answerliesbothinthenatureofthepersonalitydisorderitself,andinpowerfulsocial,cultural,
andpoliticalinluences.

TheLBGTmovementhasachievedenormoussuccessinexploitingthepsychological
vulnerabilitiesofpeoplewholackacoherentsenseofself,providingbothactivistleadersanda
noblecausewithwhichtoidentify.FlushwithsuccessfollowingtheSupremeCourtssame
sexmarriagedecision,themovementhastakenonanauraofinvincibility.

Thesuccessofthetransgenderrightscrusade,basedasitisontheculturaldelusionofdenying
biologicdifferencebetweenthesexes,wouldsuggesttherearenolimitstothemovementsgoal
ofreshapingAmericancultureanditsinstitutions.Attachingoneselftosuchapowerfulforce
canbeaheadyexperienceforsomeonewhoseselfidentityislargelydeinedbythepeopleand
causeswithwhichheorsheidentiies.

Transgenderism Is Identity Politics

Thetransgendermovementhasmadecleveruseofthepowerfulforceofidentitypolitics.
Clearly,personalidentity,thetotalityofonessenseofself,doesnotconsistsimplyofgender
anymorethanitdoesofonesrace,ethnicity,religion,orclass.Such,however,arethecategories
uponwhichidentitypoliticsarebuilt.Tobepoliticallyeffective,identitypoliticsdependupon
lumpingpeopleintogroupsthatobliteratepersonalidentitiesandcharacteristics.Thereareno
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individualsinidentitypolitics,onlyamorphousmassesofpeoplewithacommonanddeining
property,oneexploitedforapoliticalpurpose.

Thisprocessexploitsdifferencesbetweenpeople(cultural,social,
All this is with the
ethnic,religious,etc.)tobuildconstituenciesoftheaggrieved,the
credulous support of
marginalized,andthoseledtobelievetheyremarginalized.They
people and
areassuredredressoftheirgrievancesbyaspecialinterestgroup
institutions who
commonlyapoliticalpartythatproitsatthepollsfrom
have succumbed to
activatingthemasavictimizedgroup.Thevictimizedmustof
the contagion of a
coursehavevictimizers,whoareviliiedasoppressorsofthe
cultural delusion.
communityofaggrieved.

Thisbitterlypolarizingformulacaststhetransgenderedasanamorphouslotofhatefully
oppressedpeople.Nodistinctionismadeamonghighlydisparategroupsofthegender
dysphoric.Ashasbeendescribed,theserangefromtransientexpressionsofgender
incongruencethatoccurinthenormaldevelopmentalprocess,tothosethataresurface
expressionsofcommonlifestageconlicts,andtothosemoredeeplyrootedproblemsof
personalidentitythataresymptomaticofpersonalitydisorders.

Ironically,individualsarerobbedoftheirpersonalidentityandbecomeanonymousmembersof
thegenderidentitycommunitythetransgendered.Ratherthantheindividualassessments
andpersonalizedpsychotherapythatthesuficientlydistressedshouldreceive,theremedyis
onesizeitsall.Atransgenderpersoncanbecomeanygenderheorshechooses,orbeno
genderatall.Theycancallthemselvesanynamestheychoose,takehormones,andhavetheir
sexsurgicallyreassigned.Allthisiswiththecreduloussupportofpeopleandinstitutionswho
havesuccumbedtothecontagionofaculturaldelusion.

Individualsarefurtherstrippedoftheirpersonalidentityastheybecomepawnsinthebroader
LGBTagenda.Asithasgainedjudicialandpoliticalpower,theLGBTgoalappearstobenoless
thanfullpublicacceptanceofanyvarietyofsexualexpressionitchooses,withnotolerancefor
dissent.Transgenderismisthevanguardofthecurrentoffensive.Thebittersocialstrifeithas
fosteredindicatesthelengthstowhichthemovementwillgoindestroyingtheopposition.

Demonizing the Opposition

Whoaretheopposition?Truetoidentitypolitics,theyarecastasamobofbigotedhaterswho
woulddenythetransgenderedtheirbasichumanrights.Therecanbenootherexplanationfor
whysomeonemightbelievethattransgenderismdeiesbothreasonandthelawsofbiology.

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Thedemonized,ofcourse,arethoseofreligiousfaith.Muchofthe
The liberal
Westernworldhasbecomesecularizedandantireligious,buta
mainstream media
strainofstrongreligiousbeliefstillremainsintheUnitedStates.
is chief among the
Theseadherentstoacodeofsexualmoralitythatdiffersfromthe
institutions in lock-
LGBTsexualliberationagenda,albeitfoundationaltotheJudeo
step with the
Christianvaluesystemformillennia,areseenasthelastbastionof
divisive tactics of
opposition.Consequently,expressionsofsincerelyheldreligious
identity politics.
beliefareattackedashatefulandbigoted.Believersaremockedas
unsophisticatedrubesandrednecks,desperatelyclingingtotheirgunsandreligionwhile
resistingtheinevitabletriumphofrationalmodernity.

Theliberalmainstreammediaischiefamongtheinstitutionsinlockstepwiththedivisive
tacticsofidentitypolitics.Glowinganecdotalaccountsandindividualtestimoniesofpeople
whohavehadsexchangesurgeryregularlyappearinfawningmediareportsthatsupportand
encouragethetransgendercraze.Transgenderedcelebritiesinparticulararecommended,and
thepersonspreferredgenderpronounalwaysdutifullyapplied.

Anyreligiousormoraloppositiontothemovementisrelexivelycharacterizedashatefuland
discriminatory.Nowheretobeseenaretheaccountsofdisillusionmentanddepressionbythose
whoregrethavinghadsurgery.Inneglectingcompellingclinicalevidenceandresearchin
supportofthecommonsensenotionthatsurgeryisnotatreatmentforapsychological
disorder,thepsychiatricprofessioniscertainlymostculpable(althoughonewonderswhathas
becomeofresponsiblereportingandthehonoredtraditionofinvestigativejournalism).

The Long March Through Institutions

Alongwiththemedia,thepoliticallefthaswarmlyembracedtheLGBTmovementsapparent
goaltoreshapethesocialfabricandculturaltraditionsofAmericanlifeandtoreconstruct
societytosuititsdemands.Thereappearstobenolimittoeffortstosilencedissenters.
Religiousbelieversarebeingdemonized,andmanyfearevenfreedomofthepulpitisin
jeopardy.Thereisnohesitationinusingcourtstoimposethewillofatinyminorityonthe
generalpublic,eventotheextentofchangingthebathroompracticesoftheentirenation.

Objectionsofthemajority,evenongroundsofprivacyortoprotect
The effect the
youngchildrenfromprematureexposuretosexualissues,are
transgender
simplyignored.Manyofoureliteacademicinstitutionswillingly
delusion will have
complywitheffortstoalterourbasiclanguage,promotinguseof
on our society and
themanyneologismsinventedtolabelthenewvarietiesofgender.
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 its institutions, Thefederalgovernmentsdecisiontoallowtransgenderedpeople
including the toserveopenlyinthemilitary,womentoserveincombatroles,
military, remains to andeventuallytohaveafullysexuallyintegratedmilitary,
be seen. illustratestheextenttowhichpoliticalcorrectnesshastriumphed.
Thatmenandwomenintheintenseandintimatedailycontactmilitaryservicedemandscould
becomeahighlyeffectiveightingforce,abandnotofmenandwomenbutofgenericsoldiers,
wouldprovethatgenderissimplyasocialconstruct.Itwouldalsorefutethelawsofhuman
nature.Thebeliefthatmenandwomenwillnotbehaveinaccordancewiththeirbiologyis
preciselythedelusion.

Theeffectthetransgenderdelusionwillhaveonoursocietyanditsinstitutions,includingthe
military,remainstobeseen.Incontrast,thedestructiveinluenceofidentitypoliticsis
immediateandverypersonalforthetransgendered.Asfacelessmembersofapoliticalspecial
interestgroup,theyarerobbednotonlyoftheirdistinctnessasindividualsbutalsooftheir
chanceforeffectivetreatment.

Thevicissitudesoflifedevelopmentalconlicts,lifecyclestressors,personalitydisorders
thatexpressthemselvesingenderdissatisfactionorconfusionarethesameasthosethatcan
challengeasecuresenseofselfandcauseemotionaldistressinanyone.Indeed,suchdistressis
whatmostcommonlycausespeopletoconsultpsychiatristsandclinicalpsychologists.People
labeledtransgenderedorgenderdysphoricarenolessentitledtoindividualpsychological
assessmentandpersonalizedcounselingorpsychotherapy.

Historically,contagiouspopulardelusionsthatdenycommonsenseandlyinthefaceofreality
eventuallyruntheircourse.Thiswilllikelybethefateofthetransgendercraze.Butbeforeit
collapsesunderitsownweight,manypeoplewillsufferirreparableharm.

RichardB.Corradi,M.D.isprofessorofpsychiatryatCaseWesternReserveUniversity
SchoolofMedicine,Cleveland,Ohio.
Copyright2017TheFederalist,awhollyindependentdivisionofFDRLSTMedia,AllRightsReserved.

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