• diagnosis by connecting a device called a plethysmograph to the boy's penis to measure his erection while exposing him to pornography involving adults, youth, and children.
• attempting to change his sexual feelings through one of the following procedures:
  • Aversion therapy: repeatedly subjecting the youth to nauseating or painful fumes (such as ammonia) while exposing him to pornograpy.
  • Covert sensitization: repeatedly having him recount his sexual fantasies and shaming and humiliating him for them.
  • Masturbatory satiation: repeated, lengthy masturbation.
• monitoring and reporting of all sexual feelings, thoughts, and fantasies, often with lie detectors, again in the context of shaming and humiliation.

A plethysmograph. The loop at one end is placed around the penis, and the other end is inserted into the recording device shown at right.

There is no evidence that the development of sexual attraction can be changed through these methods. In fact, the evidence points to the opposite: historically, attempts to change sexual feelings using these methods have consistently failed.

Research on the effectiveness of these methods on those attracted to younger people is identical to the old literature on homosexuality. Most is done without adequate scientific controls and produces contradictory and inconclusive results, while the few studies that are well-conducted show only temporary decreases in sexual arousal, if any at all.

Not only are these methods ineffective, they may cause severe psychological damage. It is widely recognized that aversion therapy for gay men caused severe psychological trauma, including chronic anxiety, depression, and suicide. There is no evidence that the same effects would not be seen in people attracted to younger adolescents or children.

In addition, the coerced use of these methods invade the most private part of the youth's body and mind, humiliating him for his sexuality. They interfere with the attainment of mental health by preventing the development of a sense of self-acceptance and a consolidated positive identity. Rather than combating stigma, these methods intentionally and systematically stigmatize the youth by monitoring and controlling his sexual thoughts and feelings, by communicating false information about his sexuality, and by requiring him to admit to a hideous nature.