Thursday 23 July 15:40
- 17:10
Hall: 28 - Room 6 SPT
Chair and Presenter:
Chiao Hung
Division: Division 16: Counseling Psychology
This symposium presents examination of sexual orientation concepts and identity development through three empirical psychological studies conducted in the United States, Japan, and Taiwan. Together, these studies explore how sexual orientation identity is formed, experienced, and negotiated in diverse sociocultural contexts.
The first study, based in the U.S., focuses on the revision and validation of the Sexual Orientation Scale (SOS), offering a multidimensional approach to measuring sexual orientation beyond binary classifications. This research contributes to the development of inclusive assessment tools that reflect the complexity of contemporary sexual identities The second study investigates sexual orientation identity development and self-recognition processes among Japanese individuals. Emphasizing the intrapersonal dynamics of "coming out to oneself" as a pivotal psychological step, the study carefully describes the trajectory of identity formation in a collectivist society.
The third study, conducted in Taiwan, explores bisexual identity within romantic relationships, focusing on how the emergence of bisexual identity influences couple interactions and impacts both individuals and their relationship as a whole. This research provides new perspectives to seeing the "invisible" bisexual identity and its impact on the monosexual partner in their intimate relationships.
By integrating findings from these three national contexts, this symposium underscores the cultural specificity and universality of sexual orientation identity development. It advances psychological theories of identity by illustrating how measurement, personal meaning-making, and relational dynamics intersect across cultures. The symposium aims to inform both global psychological frameworks and localized practices supporting sexual minority individuals.
