Background
In 1969, Vivienne
Cass first received a Teacher’s certificate, Diploma of School Music, in 1969
from Edith Cowan University. She then received her Bachelor Diploma of
Psychology in 1973 from the University of Western Australia. She continued on
in her education to receive her masters in clinical psychology in 1975 from the
University of Western Australia. She later received her Doctorate of Philosophy
in 1986 at the Murdoch University in western Australia.
Professional
Life and Work
Dr. Vivienne Cass
is a clinical psychologist and a sexual therapist with over 30 years of
experience. Her specialty lies in human sexuality but she also works in areas
of sexual dysfunction, sexual offences, and sexual abuse, sexual orientation
and gender identity. For most of her work, she has been working in private
practice where she saw mostly adults. From 1984-1990, she was involved in the
first psychological services for HIV-infected people within the Western
Australian Health Department. Vivienne has published two books. One was The
Elusive Orgasm: a woman’s guide to why she can’t and how she can orgasm and the
other as There’s More to Sex than AIDS: The A to Z guide to safe sex. She also
published a set of sex education posters on the clitoral anatomy. She recently
created an iPhone/ipad app on sex education, which is called Explore Women’s
Sex.
Cass is most known for is her six stage model of homosexuality
identity formation, which was published in 1979. This model consists of certain
stages through which one discovers their sexual identity. The six stages are:
Identity Confusion, Identity Comparison, Identity Tolerance, Identity
Acceptance, Identity Pride, and Identity Synthesis. In identity confusion, a
person may question their sexual orientation. At this stage a person may feel
confused and experience turmoil. In identity comparison, a person might compare
themselves to homosexuals and heterosexuals in their lives. In identity
tolerance, a person becomes tolerant that they might be gay or lesbian and
seeks out friends who are gay or lesbian. At this stage they do not accept
their sexuality. In identity acceptance, a person accepts their sexual
orientation and has a positive attitude towards it. In identity pride, a person
will strongly identify as homosexual and identify with other homosexuals. It’s
between Acceptance and Pride that a person will identify themselves as
homosexual to others. Finally, in Identity Synthesis, a person will feel
comfortable with who they are.
Currently Dr. Vivienne Cass
is retired from her own practice but is an adjunct associate professor at Curin
University, Director at Brightfire Press, Guest lecturer and Consultant
Clinical and sexual therapist Psychologist at Vivienne Cass Pty Ltd company.
Honors and
Awards:
1. Semi-finalist
and Honourable Mention Recipient: 2005 Independent Publishers Book Awards, for
The Elusive Orgasm 2005
Semi-finalist
2. In 1981-
Received the Hugo Beigel Research Award: Selected by the Journal of Sex
Research for research excellence.
3. In 1979-
Received Theory Development Award: Presented by the Gay Academic Union of
America for development of theory promising to significantly contribute to an
understanding of gay-related issues.
MEMBERSHIPS
1.
Member of the Australian Society of Authors (AUS)
2.
Member of the Australian Psychological Society
(AUS)
3.
Member of the Division of Independently Practising
Psychologists (AUS)
4.
Member of the Independently Practising Clinical
Psychologists Association (AUS)
5.
Member of the West Australian Sexology Society
(AUS)
6.
Member of the Australian Society of Sex Educators,
Researchers and Therapists (AUS)
7.
Member of the Society for the Scientific Study of
Sexuality (USA)
8.
Member of the New York Academy of Science (USA)
9.
Member of the International Society for the
Scientific Study of Women's Sexual Health
10. Part of the
Editorial Board of Journal of Homosexuality
11. Member of Women's
Sexual Health Foundation
Relevance to
Class Material
Dr. Vivienne Cass six-stage identity model relates mostly
to our class. As a class, we’ve discussed identity development, and sexuality
regarding homosexuals. Cass’ identity model provides an insight into how
homosexuals grow to realize whom they are and be more comfortable in their own
skin. This is a good insight because most works has to do with heterosexuals or
heterosexual’s attitudes. This work focuses on homosexuals.
References
http://www.rockpoolpublishing.com.au/DrVivienneCass.php
Posted by: Jalissa Warthen
