Counselor Preparation Comprehensive Practice Examination

In Troiden's Gay Identity Development model, which status involves the individual becoming aware of same-sex attraction?

1. Sensitization

2. Identity Confusion

3. Identity Assumption

4. Commitment

The correct answer is: Sensitization

In Troiden's Gay Identity Development model, sensitization is the status where the individual begins to notice and become aware of same-sex attractions. This stage marks the initial realization and understanding that one's feelings towards members of the same sex are distinct from societal expectations or norms regarding sexual orientation. It is characterized by feelings of difference from peers, often tied to an emerging awareness of one’s sexual identity and a growing sense of being different or not conforming to heterosexual norms. Sensitization serves as the foundation for subsequent stages in Troiden's model. After recognizing these feelings, individuals may experience identity confusion, where they grapple with their emerging sense of identity and the potential repercussions of this realization. This progression ultimately leads to further stages where individuals may start to assume a gay identity and eventually reach a point of commitment to this identity. Each of these stages is important in understanding the overall experience of identity development among individuals who identify as gay.