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Chapter 3 - Black Same-Gender-Loving Male Couples’ Health within an Afrocentric Psychological Paradigm: The Influences of Spirituality and Religion

from Part I - Race, Racism, and Identity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 July 2023

By
Jonathan Mathias Lassiter
Edited by
Yamonte Cooper  and
Erica Holmes
Yamonte Cooper
Affiliation:
El Camino College, Torrance, California
Erica Holmes
Affiliation:
Antioch University, Los Angeles
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Summary

This chapter explores the ways in which religion, spirituality, and romance intersect in Black American same-gender-loving (SGL) men’s lives. Specifically, the author reviewed published scholarly literature on these topics. This review is followed by a critical analysis of the links between religion, spirituality, and romantic relationships and sexual experiences. This author explored the ways in which religion and spirituality influence the development, maintenance, dynamics, and quality of Black American SGL men’s romantic and sexual relationships. Then the author describes strategies, based on the reviewed literature and Afrocentric psychology theory, to help clinicians better assess the interplay of religion, spirituality, and romance. Clinical methods to treat sexual and psychological problems related to these factors are also explored. The chapter culminates with recommendations for future clinical research in this area.

Keywords

Afrocentric psychologysame-sex relationshipsBlack menspiritualityreligionhealthsexual minority menubuntusame-gender-lovingcouples therapy
Type
Chapter
Information
Black Couples Therapy
Clinical Theory and Practice
 , pp. 58 - 82
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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