Dr. Vivienne Cass is a prominent psychological theorist. Her research deals predominantly with homosexual identity formation. In the late 1970s, Cass had her Masters in psychology. She was working as a clinical tutor at the Department of Psychology at the University of Western Australia and a Consultant Psychologist at the Homosexual Counseling Service of Western Australia. She established this counseling service herself in 1974, and directed it until 1981 (Cass, 1984).

In 1979, she published her six-stage model of homosexuality identity formation. This was one of the earliest models of its kind, focusing on the actual process by which an individual comes to acquire a homosexual orientation (Cass, 1979). She would soon be joined by other theorists, such as Richard Trioden (1979) and Ken Plummer (1981).

Cass’s model caught the interest of the academic public, and in 1979 she received the Theory Development Award of the National Gay Academic Union in the United States. She continued to develop her model, and in 1983 published a through theoretical evaluation of then-current theories of homosexual identity (Cass, 1983/1984). At this point, she was a doctoral student at Murdoch University in Perth, Australia.

Finally, in 1984, Dr. Cass published her empirical data to support her earlier hypothetical model (Cass, 1984). Dr. Cass’s model became quite prominent following this publication, and another researcher developed the Gay Identity Questionnaire patterned after the basic principles she set forth.

The basic model that Cass has proposed is this:

• Identity Confusion – In this stage, individuals begin to wonder if they may be homosexual. They may consider the possibility, or reject it. If they choose to consider the possibility, they will move to the second stage.

• Identity Comparison – Here, individuals may begin looking at others and comparing themselves to homosexuals and nonhomosexuals in the surrounding environment. At this point, individuals may make contact with another homosexual person.

• Identity Tolerance – Individuals are becoming increasingly committed to the homosexual identity and may seek out more and more homosexual contacts. The self-image is still one of merely "tolerating" the homosexuality, rather than embracing it.

• Identity Acceptance – At this point, a more positive view of homosexuality begins to develop. Individuals may feel they fit into the homosexual society. However, they will generally attempt to "pass" for heterosexual, and self-disclosure will be limited.

• Identity Pride – Individuals in this stage characteristically feel a great deal of pride about their homosexuality. They will identify strongly with other homosexuals and feel anger at the way society treats homosexuals as a whole. They are often very conspicuous in their sexuality.

• Identity Synthesis – Finally, the influence of positive nonhomosexuals helps individuals become aware that all heterosexuals are not bad. At this point, they may feel "settled in" to their identity, neither ashmed of it nor needing to "flaunt" it. (Cass, 1984).

Trioden (1988) has critiqued Cass's model for assuming that identity disclosure and development are one in the same. Laura Brown (1995) criticized idea of "stage" as a wholestating it does not sufficiently explain lesbian experience. 1990 published chapter book Homosexuality/Heterosexuality: Concepts of Sexual Orientation that addressed some of the issues others had raised. She currently works in private practice as a counselor in Perth, Australia.

Cass, V. (1979). Homosexual identity formation: A theoretical model. Journal of Homosexuality, 4 (3), 219-235.

Cass, V. (1983/1984). Homosexual identity: A concept in need of definition. Journal of Homosexuality, 9 (2/3) 105-126.

Cass, V. (1984). Homosexual identity formation: Testing a theoretical model. Journal of Homosexuality, 20 (2), 143-167.

Cass, V. (1990). The implications of homosexual identity formation for the Kinsey model and scale of sexual preference. In D. P. McWhirter, S. A. Sanders, & J. M. Reinisch (Eds.), Homosexuality/Heterosexuality: Concepts of Sexual Orientation (pp. 239-266). New York: Oxford University Press.

Cass, V. (1996). Sexual orientation identity formation: A Western phenomenon. In R. P. Cabjal, T. S. Stein, et al. (Eds.), Textbook of Homosexuality and Mental Health (pp. 227-251). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.