title: The removal of Pluto from the class of planets and homosexuality from the class of psychiatric disorders: a comparison.
abstract: We compare astronomers' removal of Pluto from the listing of planets and psychiatrists' removal of homosexuality from the listing of mental disorders. Although the political maneuverings that emerged in both controversies are less than scientifically ideal, we argue that competition for "scientific authority" among competing groups is a normal part of scientific progress. In both cases, a complicated relationship between abstract constructs and evidence made the classification problem thorny.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Auburn University Montgomery, Montgomery, AL 36117, USA.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zachar
authors.forename: Kenneth S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kendler
mesh_terms: D001256:Astronomy / Q000639:trends; D002965:Classification; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018542:Pluto