The human mind is built to be social, but for some people, being true to themselves often means breaking societal norms. This can cause significant emotional distress, especially when it comes to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Closeted LGBT individuals are those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or otherwise non-heterosexual, yet conceal this part of their identity due to external pressure or fear of rejection. Internal conflict between personal identity and social conformity creates a long-term existential crisis that has been studied extensively among psychologists.
Personal Identity vs Social Conformity
Personal identity refers to an individual's sense of self, including beliefs, values, and experiences that shape their unique perspective. It encompasses many aspects, such as physical characteristics, culture, religion, family background, and relationships. On the other hand, social conformity involves adhering to societal expectations, such as what is considered acceptable behavior, dress, language, and roles based on one's race, class, age, gender, etc. These two concepts are in constant tension because they often clash with each other.
When someone identifies as LGBT but feels pressured to hide it from others due to stigma or discrimination, there is internal conflict between these two forces. They may feel divided within themselves, leading to feelings of confusion, guilt, shame, anger, anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Their desire for genuine intimacy may be affected by fear of being outed, which can lead to loneliness and isolation. Some may even engage in risky behaviors like substance abuse or dangerous hookups to fill emotional voids.
This internal turmoil can manifest physically through stress-related illnesses, sleep disturbances, weight changes, migraines, and other symptoms.
Long-Term Effects
The long-term effects of living in the closet can range from mild to severe, depending on various factors.
Those who have a strong support system tend to fare better than those without. Closeted individuals may also cope differently according to their personality type, coping skills, resilience, and life circumstances.
Regardless of individual differences, hiding one's true identity over an extended period causes psychological damage that cannot be undone quickly. It erodes trust in oneself and makes authentic relationships challenging.
It reinforces negative stereotypes about LGBT people and promotes homophobia/transphobia.
Research suggests that coming out can be transformative and has positive mental health benefits, such as increased self-acceptance, reduced stigma, improved relationships, and greater overall well-being.
Some find the process difficult and traumatic due to external rejection, especially from family members.
Whether someone decides to come out depends on many factors, including safety, comfort level, and personal values.
The internal conflict between personal identity and social conformity creates lasting existential distress among closeted LGBT adults. It affects all aspects of life, from physical to emotional health, relationships to career prospects. Psychologists agree that coming out is beneficial for most but acknowledges the difficulty and complexity of this decision. Therefore, society must work towards creating safer spaces for LGBT individuals to express themselves openly and authentically.
In what ways does the internal conflict between personal identity and social conformity create long-term existential distress among closeted LGBT adults?
Due to their sexual orientation that is different from the normative expectations of society, closeted LGBT individuals experience significant levels of stress and anxiety related to their identities. This existential distress can have negative impacts on mental health and wellbeing (Hatzenbuehler et al. , 2015).