Irving Bieber
Encyclopedia
Irving Bieber was an American
psychoanalyst
, best known for his 1962 study, Homosexuality: A Psychoanalytic Study of Male Homosexuals, which was written jointly with Harvey J. Dain, Paul R. Dince, Marvin G. Drellich, Henry G. Grand, Ralph R. Gundlach, Malvina W. Kremer, Alfred H. Rifkin, Cornelia B. Wilbur
, and Toby B. Bieber.
and graduated from New York University Medical College in 1930. During WWII he worked in the army as a psychiatrist in Egypt. He entered as a Captain and remained as a Captain during his four year service there due to his protestations when homosexuals were arrested and dishonourably discharged. He argued that they should be treated not dishonoured. He went on to work at Yale Medical College, New York University
, and starting in 1953 at the New York Medical College
, where he taught a course in psychoanalysis. Bieber has been grouped with Lionel Ovesey
and Charles Socarides
as one of the most influential writers on male homosexuality
. Bieber's 1962 book Homosexuality: A Psychoanalytic Study of Male Homosexuals was a counter reaction to the 1948 Kinsey Report on male sexual behavior
. This book being the outcome of his research received the Hofheimer Prize for Research. It remained the leading study on homosexuality
until homosexuality was removed from DSM-III
in 1973. In 1970, Bieber attended a meeting of the American Psychiatric Association
in San Francisco that was disrupted by gay activists
, one of whom called him a "motherfucker
." According to Charles Socarides, Bieber, who had "been working all these years to help these people", "took this very hard." In 1973, Bieber told an interviewer that "a homosexual is a person whose heterosexual function is crippled, like the legs
of a polio victim."
Bieber arranged a partial translation into English of a paper by the Hungarian
pediatrician S. Lindner, who had reported a systematic study of sucking. Sigmund Freud
had used Lindner's observation that sensual sucking seems to absorb the attention completely and leads to either sleep
or an orgasm
-like response to develop his theory of infantile sexuality. Bieber pointed out what he saw as inaccuracies in Freud's use of this paper.
Bieber died in Manhattan
in 1991.
Magazine featured an article on homosexuals and smothering mothers directly inspired by this study. Writers associated with NARTH have continued to use the study. Joseph Nicolosi
commented, "Irving Bieber's 1962 study established this family type [the classic triadic family] empirically. It has been repeatedly shown to be the foundational model in male homosexuality, although there is more consistency in findings about fathers than about mothers."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
psychoanalyst
Psychoanalysis
Psychoanalysis is a psychological theory developed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Austrian neurologist Sigmund Freud. Psychoanalysis has expanded, been criticized and developed in different directions, mostly by some of Freud's former students, such as Alfred Adler and Carl Gustav...
, best known for his 1962 study, Homosexuality: A Psychoanalytic Study of Male Homosexuals, which was written jointly with Harvey J. Dain, Paul R. Dince, Marvin G. Drellich, Henry G. Grand, Ralph R. Gundlach, Malvina W. Kremer, Alfred H. Rifkin, Cornelia B. Wilbur
Cornelia B. Wilbur
Cornelia B. Wilbur was an American psychiatrist. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1930 and was one of eight women medical college graduates in 1939...
, and Toby B. Bieber.
Biography
Irving Bieber was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and graduated from New York University Medical College in 1930. During WWII he worked in the army as a psychiatrist in Egypt. He entered as a Captain and remained as a Captain during his four year service there due to his protestations when homosexuals were arrested and dishonourably discharged. He argued that they should be treated not dishonoured. He went on to work at Yale Medical College, New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, and starting in 1953 at the New York Medical College
New York Medical College
New York Medical College, aka New York Med or NYMC, is a private graduate health sciences university based in Westchester County, New York, a suburb of New York City and a part of the New York Metropolitan Area...
, where he taught a course in psychoanalysis. Bieber has been grouped with Lionel Ovesey
Lionel Ovesey
Lionel Ovesey was an American psychoanalyst.-Biography:Ovesey was born in Manchuria of Russian parents, who took him to the United States. He grew up in Los Angeles, and graduated from the University of California in 1937 and the University of California Medical School in 1941...
and Charles Socarides
Charles Socarides
Charles W. Socarides was an American psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, physician, educator, and author. Socarides was born in Brockton, Massachusetts. Socarides focused much of his career on the study of homosexuality, which he believed can be altered...
as one of the most influential writers on male homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. Bieber's 1962 book Homosexuality: A Psychoanalytic Study of Male Homosexuals was a counter reaction to the 1948 Kinsey Report on male sexual behavior
Kinsey Reports
The Kinsey Reports are two books on human sexual behavior, Sexual Behavior in the Human Male and Sexual Behavior in the Human Female , by Dr. Alfred Kinsey, Wardell Pomeroy and others and published by Saunders...
. This book being the outcome of his research received the Hofheimer Prize for Research. It remained the leading study on homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
until homosexuality was removed from DSM-III
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders is published by the American Psychiatric Association and provides a common language and standard criteria for the classification of mental disorders...
in 1973. In 1970, Bieber attended a meeting of the American Psychiatric Association
American Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association is the main professional organization of psychiatrists and trainee psychiatrists in the United States, and the most influential worldwide. Its some 38,000 members are mainly American but some are international...
in San Francisco that was disrupted by gay activists
LGBT social movements
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender social movements share inter-related goals of social acceptance of sexual and gender minorities. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and their allies have a long history of campaigning for what is generally called LGBT rights, also called gay...
, one of whom called him a "motherfucker
Motherfucker
Motherfucker is a vulgarism which, in its most literal sense, refers to one who participates in sexual intercourse with a mother, either someone else's mother, or his own.- Variants :...
." According to Charles Socarides, Bieber, who had "been working all these years to help these people", "took this very hard." In 1973, Bieber told an interviewer that "a homosexual is a person whose heterosexual function is crippled, like the legs
Human leg
The human leg is the entire lower extremity or limb of the human body, including the foot, thigh and even the hip or gluteal region; however, the precise definition in human anatomy refers only to the section of the lower limb extending from the knee to the ankle.Legs are used for standing,...
of a polio victim."
Bieber arranged a partial translation into English of a paper by the Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
pediatrician S. Lindner, who had reported a systematic study of sucking. Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud
Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis...
had used Lindner's observation that sensual sucking seems to absorb the attention completely and leads to either sleep
Sleep
Sleep is a naturally recurring state characterized by reduced or absent consciousness, relatively suspended sensory activity, and inactivity of nearly all voluntary muscles. It is distinguished from quiet wakefulness by a decreased ability to react to stimuli, and is more easily reversible than...
or an orgasm
Orgasm
Orgasm is the peak of the plateau phase of the sexual response cycle, characterized by an intense sensation of pleasure...
-like response to develop his theory of infantile sexuality. Bieber pointed out what he saw as inaccuracies in Freud's use of this paper.
Bieber died in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
in 1991.
Homosexuality: A Psychoanalytic Study of Male Homosexuals
Homosexuality has been criticized for examining homosexuals already in analytic treatment as opposed to non-patient heterosexuals. It has been suggested that the study informed stereotypes later promulgated by the media. For example, in 1964 LifeLife (magazine)
Life generally refers to three American magazines:*A humor and general interest magazine published from 1883 to 1936. Time founder Henry Luce bought the magazine in 1936 solely so that he could acquire the rights to its name....
Magazine featured an article on homosexuals and smothering mothers directly inspired by this study. Writers associated with NARTH have continued to use the study. Joseph Nicolosi
Joseph Nicolosi
Joseph Nicolosi is an American clinical psychologist, founder and director of the Thomas Aquinas Psychological Clinic, in Encino, California, and a past-president of the National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality...
commented, "Irving Bieber's 1962 study established this family type [the classic triadic family] empirically. It has been repeatedly shown to be the foundational model in male homosexuality, although there is more consistency in findings about fathers than about mothers."