The year was 1965 and Ms Collier was a young psychology student at Durham University who had just fallen in love – with another girl.
Doctors at Crumpsall Hospital told Pauline they could “change” her and she was offered work at a hospital if she had the treatment.
Believing it might finally end the shame and confusion she had carried for years, “vulnerable” teen Ms Collier submitted to treatment.
“It was punishment, not therapy,” she recalled.
Ms Collier told Radio Manchester about how she was shown into a darkened treatment room.
In the centre was a chair, a screen, and machinery. Electrodes were taped to her arms. She was shown semi-naked photographs of women and asked which she found attractive. When she refused to choose, she was shocked.
“It made me sweat, it frightened me,” she said.
She was told she could avoid the shock by pressing a button and choosing a photo of a man instead.
“I would associate pain with women and relief with men.
“It was so naïve, simplistic.”
Pauline estimates she had around 20 sessions, each involving a dozen shocks.
“They told me to ignore women completely.
“Not look at them, not make friends with them.
“Instead, concentrate on men – look at them, talk to them, feel sexually attracted to them.
“I tried really hard to do that.
“But they were trying to make me heterosexual inside – and I never achieved that.”
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