Laud Humphreys Tearoom Trade Sociology

In 1970 sociologist and ordained episcopalian minister laud humphreys published his book the tearoom trade.

Laud humphreys tearoom trade sociology. Decided to study homosexual conduct as a topic for his doctoral dissertation. Argues that humphrey s tearoom trade study misinforms readers as much as it informs regarding moral and ethical foundations for research with human subjects. Impersonal sex in public places laud humphreys 1970 laud humphreys a sociologist recognized that the public and the law enforcement authorities hold highly simplistic stereotyped beliefs about men who commit impersonal sexual acts with one another in public restrooms. Impersonal sex in public places 1970 is commonly presented in many sociological methods texts as an example of covert and deceptive research methods that endangered subjects without their consent lenza 2004 p.

Humphreys asserted that the men participating in such activity came from diverse social backgrounds. Dissertation which was entitled tearoom trade. Impersonal sex in public places one of the most famous and controversial studies in sexology by assuming the role of a look out humphreys gained the male subjects trust which enabled him to observe complete strangers engaging in brief impersonal sexual encounters with same. Robert allan laud humphreys october 16 1930 in chickasha oklahoma august 23 1988 was an american sociologist and author.

Perhaps not surprisingly given the topic the research was highly controversial however this was not just due to its sensitive subject matter. The humphreys research sociology homework assignment help the humphreys research laud humphreys 1970 then a sociology graduate student. Concludes that few studies in sociology have accomplished as much in a single work. States that humphrey s tearoom study made significant positive contributions to the population he studied.

He influenced generations of scholars who research. He is noted for his research into sexual encounters between men in public bathrooms published as tearoom trade 1970 and for the questions that emerged from what many believe to be unethical research methods. Without disclosing his role as a sociology researcher humphreys played the role of watchqueen that is he looked out for intruders while men performed. In tearoom trade 1970 1975 laud humphreys writes about the homosexual relations that took place in various tearooms i e public bathrooms in an unidentified american city during the mid to late 1960s.

In 1970 laud humphreys then a washington university phd student wrote his infamous thesis tearoom trade which was a study of homosexual behaviour between men in public toilets in a u s. A study of homosexual encounters in public places the study is an analysis of male male sexual behavior in public toilets. Impersonal sex in public places is a 1970 book by laud humphreys humphreys book is based on his 1968 ph d. His research focused 011 homosexual acts between strangers meeting in tearooms public restrooms in parks.

By pretending to be a simple voyeur humphreys explains that he systematically observed these activities and even recorded the license plate numbers of a sample of tearoom. The tearoom trade study from 1965 to 1968 laud humphreys an ordained episcopalian minister conducted dissertation research on men who have impersonal sex with men humphreys 1970.