Historical Overview and Pathologization of Sexual and Gender Diversity in Brazilian Psychological Assessment

Abstract

This article analyzes personality assessment instruments used in Brazilian psychology in the early 2000s. It seeks to understand how tests that may contain discriminatory biases related to sexual and gender diversity coexisted with guidelines that defend human rights and the elimination of prejudice. The historical evolution of gender and sexuality assessment in psychology is explored, from the 18th-century concept of "single sex" to the development of psychological tests that measure "masculinity" and "femininity". The article examines the ethical and technical implications of using such instruments, highlighting their potential discriminatory biases and contradictions with ethical guidelines. Historical influences on these instruments are addressed, including evolutionary and psychoanalytic theories, as well as the development of personality tests. The shift from the pathologization of gender and sexuality variations to the recognition and affirmation of diversity is also discussed. The article highlights a paradox in Brazilian psychology, where regulatory bodies emphasize ethical principles and human rights, yet historically approved and maintained tests with clear discriminatory biases. This is attributed to a historical disconnect between empirical psychology and critical/feminist psychology in Brazil, unlike the more integrated approach in the North American context where the tests were developed.