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The metric of the visual field is generally accurate but subject to changes dependent on stimulation. It is suggested that these changes indicate how the metric develops initially, and that the features of the visual signal which control the metric are the distributions of contours and of contour-curvatures over the field. These distributions are genetically prescribed for the organism; they correspond well with the distribution of these features in patterns derived optically from the environment; hence visual shapes and physical shapes are maintained in correspondence. Further short discussions concern physiological hypotheses and the extension of the above to senses other than vision.

We developed a scale to measure internalized homophobia in men who have sex with men, which is comprised of items derived from theoretical and clinical reports of internalized homophobia. Two hundred two men who have sex with men and who attend "Man to Man" sexual health seminars in a midwestern U.S. city completed the scale at baseline. Orthogonal factor analysis revealed four dimensions of internalized homophobia: public identification as gay, perception of stigma associated with being homosexual, social comfort with gay men, and the moral and religious acceptability of being gay. Factor scoring of these dimensions indicated that they were associated significantly with relationship satisfaction, duration of longest relationship, extent of attraction to men and women, proportion of social time with gay people, membership of gay/bisexual groups, HIV serostatus, and disclosure of sexual orientation. Internalized homophobia is measurable and consists of four dimensions that are associated significantly with low disclosure, shorter length of and satisfaction with relationships, lower degree of sexual attraction to men and higher degree of attraction to women, and lower social time with gay people.Internalized homophobia is a central construct in the symptomatology and treatment of gay men and lesbians. Cabaj (1988) argues that it is the main dynamic in neurosis in homosexual people, with ego-dystonic homosexuality, previously a diagnostic category, being described as dissatisfaction with being homosexual and as being associated with low self-esteem and self-hatred. Thus, the diagnostic category of ego-dystonic homosexuality included what currently is described as internalized homophobia. Cabaj suggests that internalized homophobia will affect symptomatology, transference, and countertransference in psychotherapy with homosexual people. In addition, Kahn (1991) has noted that theories of homosexual identity formation are based on the assumption thatThe "Man to Man" seminars were funded by a grant from the AIDS/STDs Program of the Minnesota Correspondence should be addressed to Dr.

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