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Chapter 3 (continued)
Mother and Son
The phenomenon of over-attachment to mother is considered by many writers to be an effect of the more primary concern—detachment from father. Mother becomes “the only remaining channel for attachment.”7(p8) If this relationship is more rewarding to the boy than that with his father (or whatever male is available), it would not be too surprising that a son would remain attached to his mother and thus fail to identify with the male figure.7(p32) In such a situation the boy may tend to model himself after his mother’s “mannerisms, expressions, and perspective on life.”9(p47) This is a safe relationship for the boy, but it is likely to cause him to feel weak, stifled, and confined, leaving him with a deficit not only in masculine identity but also in personal power.7(p98) So far this description presents mother as a passive factor in the development of homosexuality. However, Bieber’s findings (which we will review in depth below) present mother as a more active participant in the process.
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