CASE ANALYSIS OF AN ADULT HOMOSEXUAL MALE FROM BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA IN CONTEXT OF HOMOSEXUAL IDENTITY FORMATION
CASE ANALYSIS OF AN ADULT HOMOSEXUAL MALE FROM BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA IN CONTEXT OF HOMOSEXUAL IDENTITY FORMATION

Author(s): Dženan Berberović
Subject(s): Gender Studies, Sociology, Gender history
Published by: Institut za filozofiju i društvenu teoriju
Keywords: homosexual identity formation; internalized homophobia; psychological assessment; societal stigma; Bosnia and Herzegovina
Summary/Abstract: One of the most important developmental tasks during adolescence and young adulthood is identity formation. Cohesive identity formation is basic for human development throughout the lifespan (Halpin & Allen, 2004). This task would be even more challenging for homosexual individuals, as they are exposed to social stigma, prejudice and negative attitudes because of their homosexual identity even from very early ages (Ryan & Futterman, 2001). Identity development in homosexual individuals is known as the “coming out” process, which implies the process of acceptance of the emerging homosexual identity through several identity formation stages (Cass, 1979, 1984, 1996). Homosexual individuals have numerous feelings toward homosexuality, which need to be overcome (Caroll, 2007). The first awarnesses of sexual orientation emerge in school ages, but they are not admitted to others until the adolescence period (Savin-Williams and Diamond, 2000)

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