3. By Julia Grygier and Chelsea Montrois
Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration
SUNY College at Buffalo
HEA 617: Student Development and Learning
Dr. Carmen McCallum
Final Project: Bridging Theory to Practice
Due April 28, 2016
A sexual orientation development coloring book
for HESAA students
4. In 1979, Vivienne Cass utilized findings from her clinical
exploration of gays and lesbians in Australia to publish Cass’s
Model of Sexual Orientation Identity. The model, based on six
stages of perception and behavior, describes a journey from
minimal awareness and acceptance of a gay or lesbian identity to
an ultimate stage in which the individual integrates a gay or
lesbian identity with other aspects of the self.
CASS’S THEORY
5. Meet Cassandra.
Cassandra is a married 32 year old female. She is the mother of
two, and earns a living as an elementary school science teacher.
Cassandra has always identified as heterosexual, but that will
soon change!
6. Prestage 1
Prior to the first stage of Cass’s theory, individuals
identify with the dominant heterosexual culture and
recognize this as a preferred state of being. Later, as
their perceptions change, increased conflict occurs
between self-concept, behavior, and the perceptions of
others. The individual with either move to a new stage or
revert to identity foreclosure.
Cassandra has seen herself as a
straight female for as long as she
can remember. From middle school
through college, she was popular
among her male peers and always
had a boyfriend. During college,
she fell in love with James, who
she married shortly after
graduation.
7.
8. Stage 1:
Identity Confusion
During the first stage, the individual may feel curious, confused, or
anxious about the realization that their behavior or feelings could be
labeled gay or lesbian. This inner turmoil may lead the individual to ask
“Who am I?” The individual may respond to this question with
acceptance, psychological self-denial or repression, or rejection and/or
may avoid information about homosexuality, exhibit self-denial or non-
homosexual justification of behavior. Women often have deep, strongly
emotional, but non-sexual relationships with other women. During this
stage, a person may experience the need to explore positive and
negative judgement of herself and may find comfort in her knowledge
of sexual behavior’s existence along a spectrum. The main focus in
the first stage is reducing discomfort.
During college, Cassandra had several
sexual experiences with women. Over the
years, she had justified the behavior as
“just experimenting” or asserting that
she “was just drunk.” Recently, she has
been feeling a strong emotional
attraction to a close female friend. She
recognizes that this may be viewed as
“Lesbian” behavior and feels confused
about her attraction. “Who Am I?” she
asks!
9.
10. Stage 2:
Identity Comparison
During the second stage, individuals accept the possibility of being
gay or lesbian and consider what this tentative commitment
means for other areas of their lives, and the things they may give
up by embracing their sexual orientation. Focus is placed on
dealing with social alienation. Reactions during this stage may
range from extreme pain and self-ostracism, to relief and a sense
of emergence from a “fog.” Individuals in the second stage may
compartmentalize their own sexuality by maintaining a
“heterosexual” identity or convince oneself that these feelings are
temporary or specific to only one individual.
Cassandra considers the possibility
that she is lesbian and feels painfully
alone. She asks herself “What does
this mean for my family?” as she
acknowledges the love of her husband
and the happiness her children bring
to her life. Cassandra contemplates
her own identity, and begins to
consider what other lesbians are like.
11.
12. Stage 3:
Identity Tolerance
After much internal conflict,
Cassandra has accepted that she is
probably lesbian. She recently took
note of a local gay & lesbian
social/support group, which she plans
on attending. Additionally, she has
begun to scour the internet for
information about LGBTQ resources
and events.
Individuals in the third stage acknowledge the probability that they
are gay or lesbian and recognize that they are not alone. Focus is
placed on seeking out other gay and lesbian folks to fight
feelings of isolation and social alienation. Often, individuals in
the Identity Tolerance phase explore opportunities to increase
contact with other gays and lesbians and search for community
resources, which lead to a more positive sense of self. Negative
contact with gays and lesbians may inhibit identity development.
Individuals in the third stage may feel the need to be supported in
exploring their developing identities, but may also feel internalized
homophobia.
13.
14. Stage 4:
Identity Acceptance
Each morning in an attempt to manage
her stress, Cassandra looks in the mirror
and repeats the words “I am lesbian, and
I am going to be okay.” She is feeling
more confident in her own identity each
day, but still struggles to balance her
inner feelings with how the public sees
her. She feels comfortable socializing at
the local lesbian bar and has recently
come out to her college roommate, a
heterosexual female who she considers
her best friend.
Individuals in the fourth stage accept that they will be “okay,”
attach a positive connotation to their identity, and accept their
identity rather than tolerate it. The focus during this stage is to
deal with the inner tension between the public and private
self. Individuals increase contact with and “fit in” to gay and
lesbian culture, and may come out to selective heterosexuals. As
the individual increases commitment to a lesbian identity, they
experience a more stable sense of self.
15.
16. Stage 5:
Identity Pride
Cassandra has been spending most of
her time with a group of LGBTQ
activists and feels both empowered and
angered by an oppressive society. She
recently attended a political protest
against anti-gay discriminatory hiring
policies at a large local
manufacturing plant and marched
proudly in her city’s pride parade.
During the fifth stage, individuals may view the world as being divided
into two conflicting halves: heterosexual (“bad”) and homosexual
(“good”). The person may increase immersion into gay and lesbian
culture and decrease contact with heterosexuals. An individual in the
Identity Pride stage may feel anger toward mainstream “non-gay”
culture, and express pride in “going against the grain” resistance
toward “fitting in.” The focus at this stage is placed on
participating in gay issues and activities, and minimizing
contact with heterosexuals.
17.
18. Stage 6:
Identity Synthesis
The focus during Identity Synthesis is to integrate one’s gay
or lesbian identity with other aspects of the self, rather than
claiming it as an entire identity. Individuals in this stage may
continue to exhibit pride publicly, but may internalize much of this
positivity. The person often feels comfortable moving out into the
community and is typically “out” among friends, family, and
coworkers. While oppressive environments still exist, the individual
feels more at peace with his or her self.
Cassandra maintains a relationship
with the LGBTQ activists, but has also
been spending some of her time
socializing with her old group of
heterosexual friends. Her friends and
family, including her (soon to be ex-)
husband and young children, have been
made aware of her identity and offer
their acceptance and support. While
Cassandra continues to grow, learn,
and even face adversity, she feels
grateful for her wonderful life!
