Is Sexual Orientation Biologically Based or Choice?
Over the years there has been many debates and experiments to try to come to the conclusion of whether sexual orientaion is biologically based or choice. Sexual orientation is a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to men, women or both sexes. Sexual orientation is defined in terms of relationships with others since their identity is based off of their attractions. Sexual orientation can be noted through behaviors such as holding hands or kissing, sharing goals and values, mutual support, and ongoing commitments. Sexual orientation can be broken down into three categories heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual. While this break down may seem very black and white, there are
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A few studies have shown that homosexuality tends to run in families. Many believe nature and nurture play complex roles since most people experience little to no sense of choice about their sexual orientation. The likelyhood that the brother of a gay man also being gay is about four times higher than normal. Three research methods have been used to explore the existence of genetic influences on sexual orientation: family studies, twin studies, and molecular genetic studies. Each method provides useful information. Family studies can answer questions such as, Does the trait of interest run in families? Family studies can also be used to help decide if the same genes are important in both sexes. They also look for patterns in how a trait is passed down through generations making it possible to get an idea about where predisposing genes could be located. Studies have shown the average rate of homosexuality in men with gay brothers is approximately nine percent and for females six to twenty-five …show more content…
Researchers have narrowed the region where this gene resides to the X chromosome, Since sons get this chromosome from their mother. Studies of DNA markers on the X chromosomes of siblings has narrowed the search to an area called XQ28. It is made up of hundreds of genes and can be found on the tip of an X chromosome. There has also been some clues that genes are located elsewhere and could possibly have an identical effect on sexual orientation. A team from North Shore University, Illinois, further researched these genes by comparing DNA from 1077 gay and 1231 straight men. They scanned the men’s genomes, looking for a single letter difference in their DNA sequences. From this they were able to focus on two genes whose variants seem to be linked to sexual orientation. One of the genes is located on chromosome 13, which is active in a part of the brain called the diencephalon which contains the hypothalamus. Another gene was discovered on chromosome 14 and is mainly active in the thyroid, but also the brain. This gene is called TSHR, it makes a type of protein that clings on to a hormone that stimulates the thyroid. The gene plays an important role in controlling thyroid function. There is some evidence that the brains of homosexuals may be different from those of heterosexual men and women. The differences have been found in the hypothalamus. Studies done in the Netherlands and in Southern
Mentioned is the chromosome Xq28 which is the region where scientists believe plays a key role in determining orientation, they found that 33 out of 40 brothers who were gay had similar inherited genes for chromosome Xq28. However, Bailey 's study on inherited genes is variable and limited, it does not explain the entirety of how sexual
Another research suggests that sexual orientation is impacted by a gene or genes found on the X chromosome. Though genetic tendencies for homosexuality may be passed from mothers to their children (Rahman & Wilson, 2003). During human evolution, homosexuality was developed to minimize competition between males for a limited number of potential female mates (Schulling, 2004).
A pattern emerges where the scholarly literature exploring this topic is largely focused on males. Reason being is that it appears that males are the sex who are predominantly homosexual in their orientation (LeVay & Baldwin, 2012). However, the sensitivity within the discourse of sexual orientation arises when it is debated upon whether one 's sexual preference is innate at birth, hence a force of nature or biology, or if it is a result of culture, nurture or environmental factors (Emmanuele et al., 2010). Furthermore, an experimental design will be proposed to further examine this topic. Comparing the three chosen studies, it is evident that a biological and endocrinological perspective does account for sexual orientation (Kraemer et al., 2006; Manning et al., 2007; Miller et al., 2008). Of the studies that currently exist on this topic, data shows that prenatal testosterone levels are indicative of sexual orientation (Kraemer et al., 2006; Manning et al., 2007; Miller et al., 2008). This paper addresses a topic that is relevant in today 's society; a topic that has, for the most part, been written off as having any scientific roots (Emmanuele et al., 2010). This paper counters that belief and in reading this essay, it will be evident that biology and endocrinology have a much stronger influence on sexual orientation than previously thought.
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)
In one article by Marcia Malory, “Homosexuality & Choice: Are Gay People ‘Born This Way’”, she goes into multiple studies on the genetics of a gay child's parents. A study conducted in 1993 the “gay gene” matter arose when it was looked into the homosexual children's parents having a different X chromosome marker. Nonetheless genes do not control our behavior completely as does environment. The brain may also play a role in sexual preference, like the study in 1991 showing the difference in neurons and pituitary glands. Later in the 2000s more studies showed that gay men have more symmetrical hemisphere and amygdala resembles that of women's. The brain develops in the womb and continues through late adulthood. When did a fetus choose its
Sexual orientation is something that people hear about daily in the news, media, and daily lives of others, especially when it comes to the field of psychology and the nature versus nurture debate. For being as commonly debated and discussed as it is, there are many questions that come along with it: what is sexual orientation, how do people know their sexual orientation, what causes homosexuality, is it normal, is it possible to change, and can wanting LGBT, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender, youth to change lead to suicide?
Even though there are many studies that are reliable, there are some studies aren't reliable. Researcher Dean Hamer of the National Cancer Institute did a behavioral trait study using a common linkage study where it looks for a link between a behavioral trait and a certain genetic structure. The results for his study concluded that there was a link on the "q28"region of the X chromosome in homosexual males. Then a while
This paper is aimed to address the question of whether homosexuality is biologically based. This topic is quite relevant today because homosexuality is a huge civil rights issue which is also conflicting with the church 's moral standards. While many religious bodies claim that homosexuality is a choice and a "sin", many in the homosexual community have strongly refuted that claim, instead saying they were born this way and their sexual identity is not a choice for them. Currently one of the biggest debates regarding the rights of homosexuals is same sex marriage . If scientist are indeed able to show evidence that homosexuality is result of biologic or genetic
Human psychosexual development is the complex learning in today’s society. What is the meaning of sexual orientation? Obviously, it has to be related to sex. It is a way for people to choose their partners to have sex with. Most of people would say it means either interested in men or are interested in women. This is called sexual orientation. In the book Gay Straight, and the reason why written by Simon LeVay, the first chapter of talker about what sexual orientation is, “We usually judge sexual orientation based on a person sexual attraction to men and to women- that is , on her or his feelings –as expressed in answers to direct questions such as “ Are you sexually attracted to men, to women, or to both men and women?” (Page 2) The question doesn’t refer to the interviewees’ feelings of sexual attraction at the very instant of being asked, of course but to their tendency or predisposition to experience such feelings over some extended period of time, perhaps over their entire adult life. In this paragraph, Simone has described how sexual orientation formations create in a sexual orientation. Sexuality refers to a person based on sexual partner sex appeal on the basis of gender and sex want to, Heterosexual sexual orientation to the opposite sex, Gay to same-sex sexual orientation, Bisexual sexual orientation partner selection and can be either gay can also be members of
“What is homosexuality? Is it a chosen alternative lifestyle, is it a disease, or is it just a sexual orientation?” With this quote, author Chandler Burr opens the 1998 documentary “The Gay Gene.” Over the course of the next thirty minutes, viewers are led through a probe of the complex issues surrounding research into a biological basis for sexual orientation. The issue of a genetic link to homosexuality was first brought to the awareness of the general public in 1993 when scientist Dean Hamer published his paper “A linkage between DNA markers on the X chromosome and male sexual orientation” in Science. In the earlier part of the twentieth century, the psychodynamic school of thought sparked the widespread belief that homosexuality is caused by paternal rejection and “maternal fixation”[1][2], but as more progressive attitudes about the LGBT community developed, this hypothesis was largely rejected[3], leaving the scientific community to develop new theories pertaining to the origin of homosexuality.
It has long been debated where our sexual orientation comes from, particularly whether its biological or social forces driving these behaviors. In regards to homosexuality and bisexuals, some have argued that it may be a choice that these individuals are making.(Levay 2012: 41)Some have even said it is a mental disorder that one can recover from, but there is plenty of data that says otherwise.(Levay 2012: 41)(Levay 2012: 65) I believe diverse sexual orientations develop in humans due to sex hormones during fetal life, gene influences, and other effects such as birth order influences. I’ve come to this conclusion based on the narrative provided via Dr. Simon LeVay’s book Gay Straight, and the Reason Why, and the research that has been compiled showing strong influences from a multitude or reasons. I will also be looking at a research paper by Francesca Iemmola and Andrea Camperio Ciani, who looked into genetic factors influencing sexual orientation in men. It is clear there are gender differences between men and women, and this is probably one of the strongest indicators that hormones can affect the outcome of variations in gender traits.
Throughout history there has been speculation about what influences sexuality in men and woman. Is sexual orientation biological or cultural in nature? There is a common misconception that sexual identity operate in parallel with gender roles( Sell, 2005 as cited in Wilkinson & Roys, 2005, p.65). Scholars have not came to an agreement regarding what actually comprise a person’s sexual orientation, however a sexual orientation has been deemed a cumulative experience and interaction of emotional and sexual feelings towards one or both genders (Wilkinson & Roys, 2005, p.65). The paper provides provides some clues as to what factors influence sexual orientation in men and woman.
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.
This question has been asked for many years: is being homosexual a decision, or are people born that way? During the1990’s people thought it was an illness or a disgrace to the family, but now homosexuals are perceived differently due to studies. Neuroscientists of the Christianity Today Newspaper, argue that homosexuality can be a natural response of the hypothalamus itself based on the size of hypothalamus the child is born with. Neuroscientists have questioned “does its size determine homosexuality, or does homosexuality determine its size?” (Dallas). Yet, no one can be sure since the test was done on two deceased men. This being said, people can believe homosexuality is a gene that they are born with. This situation has aroused through this century as research rises concerning behaviors from the structures of the brain. In order to continue to convince the reader that people can be born homosexual and it is not a choice that they make as they grow. The article “Born Gay?” written by
The nature and nature of homosexuality is heavily debated. Some people believe that homosexuality is biologically determined and others believe it’s base on ones environment. This topic can be argue to be base on both nature and nurture. Studies conducted in the past decades support both the biological and environmental aspect of homosexuality.