Introdução à Psicologia LGBTI+

Code:

LPSI330

Acronym:

IPL+

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Psychology

Instance: 2025/2026 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	First degree in Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
LPSIC	15	Official Curricular Structure	3	-	3	-

Teaching language

Portuguese and english
Obs.: As aulas serão dadas em Português, com apoio em Inglês se necessário

Objectives

The objectives of this curricular unit are to introduce LGBTI+ psychology, namely regarding processes of identities’ construction and developmental trajectories of LGBTI+ people.

The specific objectives are as follows:

(1) To define and analyze the intersections between sex, gender, sexual orientation, sexual behavior, and sexual and gender identities;

(2) To examine the evolution of the conceptualization and understanding of sex, gender and sexual orientation and the influences of the historical, sociocultural, medical and psychological contexts for this understanding;

(3) To examine the different theoretical models and developmental trajectories and identity construction of LGBTI+ people;

(4) To assess the main needs and issues specific to LGBTI+ populations (intersex people, trans and non-binary people, gay, lesbian and plurisexual people);

Learning outcomes and competences

Students must develop skills in:
- Recognition of the differences between central concepts such as sex, gender, sexual orientation, sexual behavior, sexual identity and gender identity and their intersections;
- Knowledge of the history and evolution of scientific understanding of sexual orientation and gender identity.
- Knowledge of the different etiological and developmental theories of sexual orientation and gender identity;
- Knowledge of the main theoretical models of sexual and gender identity construction;
- Identification of the main needs and specific problems of different LGBTI+ populations.

Working method

Presencial

Pre-requirements (prior knowledge) and co-requirements (common knowledge)

N/A

Program

- Evolution of the categories of sex, gender and sexual orientation from historical, anthropological, medical and psychological perspectives;

- Theoretical models for understanding the development of LGBTI+ populations (e.g., Minority Stress Model, Gender Minority Stress Model, Sexual Stigma)

- Developmental trajectories of normative, non-normative and dissident gender identities and sexual identities throughout the life course;

- Models of identity construction for LGBTI+ people (e.g., Models by Cass, Devor, Conceição & Costa).

Mandatory literature

Bem, D. J. ; Exotic becomes erotic: A developmental theory of sexual orientation, 1996
Cass, V. ; Homosexual identity: A concept in need of definition., 1984
Conceição, M., Moura, J., & Costa, P. A. ; I feel like I’m living the authenticity of my being: Gender identity developmental trajectories of trans youth in Portugal, 2024
Crawford, N. ; Understanding children's atypical gender behavior. Monitor on Psychology, 34, 40–42., 2003
Devor, A. H. ; Witnessing and mirroring: A fourteen stage model of transsexual identity formation. , 2008
LeVay, S. ; Gay, straight, and the reason why. , 2012
Hendricks, M. L., & Testa, R. L. ; A conceptual framework for clinical work with transgender and gender nonconforming clients: An adaptation of the Minority Stress Model. , 2012
Meyer, I. H. ; Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. , 2003
Patterson, C. J., & D'Augelli, A. R. ; Handbook of psychology and sexual orientation. , 2013
Wood, W., & Eagly, A. H. ; Two traditions of research on gender identity. , 2015
Macedo, A. ; Identidade de género e orientação sexual na prática clínica. , 2018
Ellis, S. J., Riggs, D. W., & Peel, E. ; Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, and Queer Psychology, 2019

Teaching methods and learning activities

Classes will consist of:

(a) Theoretical lectures of the main contents;

(b) Reading and analysis of scientific texts;

(c) Watching videos;

(d) Practical exercises and group discussion.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	33,00
Trabalho escrito	67,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	10,00
Estudo autónomo	20,00
Frequência das aulas	28,00
Trabalho escrito	25,00
Total:	83,00

Eligibility for exams

Distributed assessment without final exam.
The assessment includes a group assignemnt with presentation in class and an individual written assignment.

Calculation formula of final grade

The group assignment has a weighting of 33% and the individual assignment has a weighting of 67% of the final grade.
To complete the curricular unit, students must complete both assessment components and obtain a minimum grade of 9.5 in each component.

Examinations or Special Assignments

N/A

Internship work/project

N/A

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

N/A

Classification improvement

The improvement of the grade of the distributed assessment can be done only once, at the recurso period of the academic year following the one in which approval was obtained (Art. 17, number 1 of the Regulation).
Improving the grade at the recurso period consists of an individual written assignment with a weighting of 100% of the final grade.

Observations

N/A