Critique of Vernon Quinsey's paper
Abstract
147 ETIOLOGY: COMMENTARIES ON THE SESSION volume (Lalumière, Quinsey, Harris, Rice & Trautrimas), it is noted that male homosexuality is a sexual attraction that “is discovered," not developed, and has failed to yield to treatment, as has pedophilia. They reason that because empirical data suggest that male homosexuality is inherited, and homosexuality and pedophilia are both “anomalous sexual preferences," pedophilia may also prove to be heritable. Quinsey, s presentation, like the others, was constrained by a time limit. I appreciated how much material he covered even more after doing the background reading for this commentary. But it is probably not possible to convey a nuanced treatment of these complex issues within the proceeding, s ground rules, neither in Quinsey, s remarks, nor in my commentary.