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The Aversion Project

By: Wei Ngai and Sabrina Lew

The Aversion Project

What is it?

The goal of the Aversion project was to "cure" homosexual members of the troops in the South African army.

The Results

The outcomes were

  • Treatments that utilized coercion

Ex. Showing a homosexual man a picture of a man, then shocking him until he agrees that women are more attractive instead

  • Some people left as half-man and half-woman after project was abandoned
  • Aubrey Levin emigrated to Canada
  • About 900 sex-change operations occurred

Facts and Research

(Answer to 5)

  • It was conducted at a military hospital in "Ward 22," and was led by Aubrey Levin
  • This experiment was conducted between 1971-1989 during the time of apartheid in South Africa
  • Treatments included sex changes, electric shock therapy, chemical castration, and hormonal treatment
  • It is assumed not to be a blind study, because patients were aware of the goal of the study

Background Info Important to the Study

  • The fact that this was not a blind or double blind study

-Patients and researchers knew what they were getting into

  • Knowing what homosexuality is
  • The view people had on homosexuality during that time

Ex. They thought gay people and drug addicts were similar

What background research do you think is important to understand the study?

Ethical, Unethical or Both?

How is or has the information from the study been used?

Decision:

This was unethical

This study was unethical because:

  • The Standard of Care was violated, since patients were treated horribly

-People were shocked, forced to do certain actions such as rape, and underwent hormonal treatment

  • People subjected to this study who are still alive today, suffer under side effects

-Bodies left as halfway between male and female

  • Now it is established that homosexuality cannot be altered by a sex change
  • Homosexuality is not a psychiatric illness
  • A person cannot be "cured" of homosexuality

Stakeholders and Their Values

Psychologists

  • Education: This would be a value because learning new things and methods that could impact our future means a lot. Without education and learning, we would have never improved as a society.

In this experiment, psychologist, Aubrey Levin went through the exploitation of homosexuals to clinically "cure" their homosexuality. Through the process, he harmed many and psychologically damaged them forever. Psychologists are a stake holder because they are expected to do the opposite of Levin and help people.

  • Technology- At the time of the Aversion Project, they didn't use placebos during their experiments. The tested soldiers were not told what they were doing. They were often forced, which resulted in psychological scars and unfinished treatments which led to a change in lifestyle and mental issues. Having technology now, we can understand a patient without harming and we can tell them exactly what we are doing because it's safe.

The South African Army

  • Justice: Serving the army means serving the country, and it is your duty as a soldier to protect your people. These treatments harm the protectors of the country and therefore can affect the people too.

The people who are suspected of being gay or a homosexual were picked to do these treatments. So if anyone did anything that looked "gay", then they would have had a high risk of being picked. The main take awayis that no one was safe in the army.

  • Security: The army's job is protect their people and each other. This study goes against everything they stand for.

LGBT People and Activists

They would be affected because they are the victims, or people like them are the victims of this experiment.

  • Acceptance : This experiment is being done because the army in South Africa wanted to "cure" homosexual soldiers. They forced transsexual operations and other treatments that made them straight. This would go against everything they stand for and their identity.
  • Equality: In the experiment, the doctors play the role of the bigger person. The soldiers who are suspected of being homosexuals are the "Guinea pigs" of this experiment. This being said, no one is equal during this experiment. Currently, our country and many countries in the world are fighting for gay marriage and equality between heterosexual and homosexuals.

Vocabulary Used

  • Outcome
  • Side Effects
  • Placebo
  • Exploitation
  • Coercion
  • Blind Study
  • Double Blind Study
  • Standard of Care
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