Homosexuality as Deviant

A great number of the gay community, however, hopes that the basis for homosexuality will be biological (Steen 188). Many parents that have homosexual children do not want to be associated with the theory of environmental factors, because they believe they did not contribute to make their children homosexual (Baird and Baird 73). They believe that if it is biological, it will mean it is part of life and not a choice they made (Steen 188). Understanding the human body and the factors that can affect the body is drastically important to most humans, which is why a lot of psychologist are so curious about the basis of homosexuality. Now the real question is, to what extent does homosexuality have a biological basis?

Freud’s psychoanalytic theory states that boys identify with their fathers and girls with their mothers to avoid the consequences of competing for the attention of the opposite sex parent. They start to imitate the behaviors of that same sex parent. If there is only one parent in the home or the same sex parent is weak, or uninvolved with the child, this process cannot take place in a natural way. Freud states homosexuality or bisexuality are the result of this conflict (Broderick & Blewitt, 2015). Freud’s theory is a bit outdated and extreme in this case, and Erikson’s theory may have a more current

Deviance is a behavior that does not conform to social norms, therefore is socially created. Since most people in the United States believe that homosexuality is wrong, society has created homosexuality to be a deviance. Since deviance is relative and not absolute to a society, homosexuality is not a universal form of sexual deviance. There are many cultures that accept forms of homosexuality. The Western society is not accepting of it though, and many times this non-accepting view cause discrimination towards homosexuals. Is homosexuality a way for some people to deviate, or is it just the way some people need to live their lives? If that is the way of life for some people than society has to become accepting towards this lifestyle.

If sexuality is developed at an early stage in a person’s life, then how does homosexuality occur? Homosexuality in Darwin’s selection theory doesn’t even exist. (Roughgarden, 2009, 127) Some say that it’s based on the person’s surrounding environment and influences while others say that it’s purely genetic. There has been substantial evidence that points to both genetic and environmental factors in developing homosexuality, but no one factor that clearly pushes over the top to define the origins of homosexuality. Statistically if a male is straight then there is a 4% percent chance that his brother might be gay, but if the male himself is gay, then the percentage jumps to 22%. (Roughgarden 2009: 247) These statistics simply show that gay males tend to group in families, it doesn’t necessarily point out anything specific about the environment’s effects or the male’s genetic makeup. (Roughgarden, 2009, 247)

There are multiple theories people hold on how they believe homosexuality started or is generally caused. However, after multiple studies and ongoing research the likelihood that it is nature, rather than nurture, based is going strong. Although, as of now, there has been no exact consensus among researchers, after examining possible genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and/or cultural influences, to prove that homosexuality is completely one or the other, but it is usually found that people cannot choose their sexual orientation, but rather only

In Brave New World, sexual intercourse is separate from reproduction. Some females are rendered sterile, and some use elaborate contraceptives, most likely to reinforce the conditioning of reproduction being obscene. Along with the family unit, exclusive partnerships have been abolished, and promiscuity is a unit of merit for ‘proper’ members of society. These

A highly debated issue concerning homosexuality is whether sexual-orientation is biologically determined or if it is a socially learned behavior. One case study done about this topic gathered that “the homosexual desire seems in most cases to be implanted in those who develop an unusually strong attachment for one parent” (Cory 1951:67). This seems to suggest that homosexuality can be influenced by family structure or other sociological elements. On the other side of this argument, there is the belief that people are born either gay or straight. Even though there is no scientific or genetic evidence to prove this, there have been many studies done and most homosexuals interviewed take this view-point. McIntosh states, “[homosexuality] is still commonly seen as a condition characterizing certain persons in the way that birthplace or deformity might characterize them” (1968:182). To support their cause and to fight for acceptance in society, it would be beneficial to convince people that sexual orientation is biologically determined. “Research indicates that people who believe that homosexuality is a choice are more likely to condemn it than are those who believe gays and lesbians are born that way”

The purpose of this lecture was to discuss the invention of homosexuality. Professor Chiang reiterated some of Foucault’s theories discussed in the last lecture, mentioning that sexuality must not be thought of as a kind of natural given which power tries to hold in check, or an obscure domain which is knowledge tries to gradually uncover. There have been many ways that scientist have tried to explain homosexuality through biology. One theory suggests, the number of older brother’s one has effects one’s sexual orientation. This is called “The Older Brother Effect”, and only accounts for a portion of homosexuals. When the idea of homosexuality shifted from sodomy to homosexuality, it changed from “What I did” to “Who I am”. Additionally, homosexuality

There are many people who believe that gender is little more than a social construct. One of the most convincing arguments for this stance is the issue of homosexuality, especially male homosexuality. When boys are born, there is no doubt that they share the same gender. Yet as they grow up and diverge to become homosexuals and heterosexuals, they begin to demonstrate a host of different characteristics that makes one clearly distinct from the other. A close examination of typical homosexual and heterosexual behavior confirms this fact. Although males are born with the same sex, homosexual and straight males differ in how they dress, talk and behave.

I knew that I needed to pick something that would be controversial that my reader would be interested. The topic of homosexuality as a deviant behavior struck my attention. It is a topic of interest to me because I seen how things have changed over time. I found it to be interesting because there is a lot of different theories and studies against the homosexual community. Homosexuality connection can be the result of mental distress, genes and hormone, and lastly the environment where the person is developed. I chose to write about homosexuality and seek to answer the deviant behaviors in America. Homosexuality is a very serious matter that it is considered deviant amongst a huge population of Americans. A deviant act is not always considered to be criminal, but a criminal act can be considered deviant behavior. The fact is that the act of Homosexuality went from illegal to legal very quickly among the American community. I want to research the three major theories of homosexuality. The three major theories to homosexuality are the biological theory, the psychiatric theory, and the sociological theory. I will examine if there is a direct correlation between any of these three theories. I want to find out the impact of the bible in homosexuality. And Lastly I want to talk about how the society has grown from this deviant behavior. The Question that I will answer in my research paper is: Is homosexuality a deviant behavior?

The lesbian desires her mother and to become a male herself, she disowns her vagina and wishes for a penis (Podder & De, 2011). The child hides the incestuous desire by manifesting it in another same sex individual. Without proper resolution of this stage, the child would begin to identify with the parent of the opposite sex and not of the same sex. “The unconscious dynamics of the gender role in male homosexuals was found to be feminine with an aspiration to be masculine at times, while female homosexuals were found to be more masculine” (Podder & De, 2011). Some believe that a child can be distinguished as a homosexual early on in development by the behaviors exhibited by the child. Children, who exhibit deviant behavior of gender roles, for example girly boys or tomboys, are at a higher risk of becoming a homosexual later in life (Podder & De, 2011). Personality development is critical in childhood.

Opposition to gay marriage has increased since the summer and a narrow majority of Americans also oppose allowing gays and lesbians to enter legal agreements that fall short of marriage. Moreover, despite the overall rise in tolerance toward gays since the 1980s, many Americans remain highly critical of homosexuals ­ and religious belief is a major factor in these attitudes.

Sexual deviance is a complex issue due to traditional values and deviance are relative terms; and to make matters worse the definition of the term sexual deviance has shifted over time. Sexual deviance refers to atypical sexual behaviors usually defined in moral and legal terms. Mistaken belief of our sexuality can lead to doubts, guilt, and shame. In addition, modern lifestyles and upscale urban living have led to a flaking of inhibitions and enhanced sexual freedom to discover different sexual behaviors is responsible for false observations of normal and abnormal sexual behavior in oneself and others. In today's world, opinions of sexual deviance include a range of sexual expression such as sexual sadomasochism, fetishism, cross dressing,

The most controversial questions that arise in relation to sexual orientation are targeted towards how one’s sexual orientation forms, what factors go into it and most importantly whether individuals have a choice in this process. According to the American Psychology Association, one’s sexual orientation is not adopted via an individual’s choice, but rather develops as a result of “cognitive and biological factors” and as well as by interacting with the surrounding environment. In simpler terms, there is a possibility in everybody even you and me being a homosexual.

Even though there have been a lot of studies that indicate the biological bases of homosexuality, there are adequate evidence that prove that homosexuality might be base on nurture. Studies conducted by Kinsey in the 1940s imply that homosexuality is a learned behavior [3]. This study stipulate that homosexuality can be influence by your environment and early homosexual experiences. It can also be cause by family abnormality. Most social theorists believe that a child’s play pattern, early peer interaction, and familial patterns can determine sexual orientation. Social theorists such as Jean Foucault believe that homosexuality is a sexual preference.