Preview

Homosexuality, Genetics or Preference?

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
794 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Homosexuality, Genetics or Preference?
Let us begin with a definition of homosexuality. Homosexuality refers to a sexual attraction and or behavior between people of the same sex. In origin the word homosexual comes from the Greek word for “same” with the Latin word for “sex”. In my opinion, homosexuality can be classified into two groups - one being sexual orientation and the other being sexual preference. Homosexuality as a sexual orientation refers to an enduring pattern or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or amorous attractions primarily towards people of the same sex. It also refers to an individual’s sense of personal and social identity based on those attractions, behaviors expressing them, and membership in a community of others who share them. On the other hand, sexual preference on homosexuality is something that one learns although their orientation.
Homosexuals have continually emphasized that sexual orientation, rather than being a personal choice or lifestyle (as it is often presumed to be) is neither chosen nor changeable. Homosexuality’s invitation to biology has long been standing unanswered. The very term “sexual orientation” connotes the deeply rooted nature of sexual desire and love, which implies something innate. It demands biology.
The origins of human sexuality and homosexuality in particular have puzzled philosophers, psychologists, and ordinary people alike for thousands of years. In order to correctly understand the genetic argument that homosexuality is inborn, it is imperative to understand the basic concepts of behavioral genetics. Behavioral genetics, as stated by Baker – a scientific journalist for the [National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality] otherwise known as NARTH, is the study of genetic influences on human behavior. Basically it is the study of genes, operating within the environment.
There are basically three kinds of inquiries to demonstrate the genetic basis for homosexuality; they include family studies, twin studies, and

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Homosexuality is a term that applies to both men and women who have sexual feelings towards members of the same sex. It is a key issue in sexual ethics and one that many groups are keen to resolve.…

    • 1143 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Simon Levay

    • 1045 Words
    • 5 Pages

    In Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why: The Science of Sexual Orientation, author and neuroscientist Simon LeVay examines a plethora of research done by scientists across the globe who’re trying to unlock the puzzle of sexual orientation. Although most people are attracted to the opposite sex, a minority of people are attracted to the same (or both) sexes. Why? For over a century, psychologists, biologists, and sociologists have been examining this phenomenon. After pouring over all the data currently available, and conducting intensive research of his own, LeVay’s conclusion on the origin of sexual orientation closely matches my own; non-heterosexual orientations are caused mainly by biological factors.…

    • 1045 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Biological theorists believe nature is what causes homosexuality. Although, many theorists have carried out investigations into linking homosexuality to an individual’s psychological development or an illness. Karen Hooker a biological theorist did her first experiment in 1957, she explored both heterosexual and homosexual individuals from the same age group and IQ levels. However, she could not prove that homosexuality is caused because of psychological development or an illness leaving her with no correlation.…

    • 553 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Everyone have their own perspective that they believe in whether its historical, biological or psychological and in this paper I have described each of them. Each of these perspectives have helped shape the way homosexuals look at themselves and shares how it may be like for them to come out and how they may adjust to there sexual orientaion. Leading into how these perspectives have influenced my own sexual orientaion and how I view homosexuality as well. Homosexuality is something that is becoming the norm in our daily lives and is something that everyone should learn more about, I know that I have learn just as much in this paper…

    • 1479 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    This portfolio was published online by Jonis Portfolio to recognize and argue the issue of nature vs. nurture and its concern with sexual identity. It describes many cases where biologically born males who were raised as females so vehemently were determined to be males. It describes nature as a leading factor over nurture for determining sexual identity. It’s helpful to this essay because it presents some major arguments concerning the matter of nature vs. nurture. It even describes the John/Joan case and what happened there.…

    • 1136 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There are numerous amounts of sexuality preference amongst humans. The most common preference that people fail to accept is homosexuality. This is when a male is in love with a male, or female in love with a female. There is mental, physical, and psychological forms of…

    • 719 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Homosexuality has been a great social, psychological and biological issue discussed amongst experts. Although, same sex relationships have been discriminated and misunderstood, over the years they have more and more accepted socially, but some stigma still lingers. This essay will expose the origin and biological explanation of homosexuality to better understand it. This essay uses research studies, examinations and tests that will ultimately reveal that homosexuality is not a learned behavior, it is a biological factor. This essay also reveals how people who view homosexuality negatively do not change view after learning these crucial biological factors that drive people to be sexually attracted to the same sex. This essay's goal is to state…

    • 1599 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Homosexuality Analysis

    • 692 Words
    • 3 Pages

    This alteration continues present. Why do viewpoints of people change ? According to Giddens, sexual development and sexual satisfaction henceforth became bound to the reflexive project of the self (1991,164) (Gauntlett, 2008, p.110). Another arguement of Giddens; once sex was seperated from reproduction, sexual plesure and variety could come to the fore. Meantime contraception had a direct influence on heterosexuality, it had knock-on homosexual relation and sexuality, as the idea of sexual pleasure in society became more open and less riddled with apprehension. Also, although in traditional socities the substantial function of reproduction was surely focused on heterosexual couples, in more modern times, once reproduction had come under human control, heterosexuality lost its supremacy (Gauntlett, 2008, p.116). Finally according to PewResearch Center’s survey; among young people in specific, there is broad support for social acceptence of homosexuality. More than six-in-ten (63%) of those young than 50- 69% of those younger than 30- say that homosexuallity should be accepted. But acceptence of homosexuality is 52% of those older than 50. Therefore the acceptence of homosexuality will increase in the…

    • 692 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Homosexuality is biologically based. It's not something someone gives a try and sees if they like it. Maybe the occurrences have something to do with the mother's hormone levels when she is pregnant. I also think it is a little of both. Some cases it might be the X and Y thing and others it is probably just learned. I think most of the recent ones are probably learned because it is all over TV and everything. I just think it is ridiculous that they expect us to be telling 4 and 5 year old kids about gay people. As long as they are not parading through the streets then sure go ahead. Just don't interfere with other's lives. The "learned" behavior for a small segment of the gay population is often caused by trauma through sexual assault and or long term abuse. All the gays and lesbians I know claim they have always known there was something different about them. Most had no clue or were in denial. Of course I don't know a lot of gays or lesbians. Seems to me there are many other ways to outrage your family and flip off society than to choose that lifestyle. Maybe there are people who were raped as children and imprinted the behavior but I would put them in the vast minority.…

    • 500 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Considering, how many influences there are on our sexual orientation, it is clear that our culture, environment, and biology…

    • 110 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Biological Homosexuality

    • 275 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Homosexuality is at the front lines of the nature versus nurture debate. Many studies have been conducted, but a clear cause has yet to be found. Anti-homosexuals, consisting mainly of religious groups, believe that homosexuality is abnormal, unnatural, and can be changed. Because of their beliefs, homosexuality must be a learned behavior. Whether homosexuality is biological or learned behavior is still a mystery, but scientists are finding more evidence to suggest the former.…

    • 275 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Nature Nurture

    • 3078 Words
    • 13 Pages

    In recent decades, many hotly debated topics have come under the scrutiny of sociobiologists, trying to determine their causation and origins. One such topic is homosexuality. Originally thought by the American Psychological Association (hereafter referred to as APA) to be a mental disorder, research into its causes, origins, and development have consequently led to its removal by the APA from its list of diagnoses and disorders [1]. Many different theories can be found regarding the root of homosexuality, as far back historically as Ancient Greece. The current debate is whether or not homosexuality is a result of nature: a person 's environment and surroundings, or of his biology and genetics. The debate endures because both sides have the ability to create a scientific environment to support their cause. For example, biological theorists may argue that a monkey and human child, reared in the same setting, will develop with vastly different outcomes, while social theorists may argue that monozygotic twins, one reared normally and the other raised in seclusion for 18 years, will also develop with vastly different results, but different even more from the first scenario [4].…

    • 3078 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Evolutionary Psychology

    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages

    in terms of homosexuality, Zietsch et al (2008) explains his theories providing an explanation to this form of evolutionary psychology on page 62. Perhaps homosexuals do not prevent reproduction, but they might actually increase the reproductive fitness for the family by contributiing to the care and resources of others. Also, Zietsch investigates the idea that genetics carry sharacteristics of the opposite sex, therefore increasing their attractivness to the opposite se. In other words, we inherit some genetic prediposition for homosexuality, but do not think of ourselves as homosexual. Instead, these genetics somehow make us more attractive to the opposite sex. For example, on page 63, researchers mailed questionnairs to 4904 identical twins asking them personal question relating to sexual orientation, number of sex partners, and gender identity. They found that hetersexual twin brothers of homosexuals had a large number of sex partners, therefore supporting the conclusion that homosexuals might offer some sort of advanatage for hetersexual persons.…

    • 362 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    There has been a drastic change in the way people, scientists especially, view homosexuality. German neuroendocrinologist Günter Dörner’s attitude towards homosexuality, for example, changed from seeing it as being “a mental disorder with a biological cause” to a cluster of traits with a “natural non-pathological nature.”(5) Being homosexual is not a mental disorder. No research has proven an innate association between non-heterosexual orientations and psychopathology. Dr. Evelyn Hooker’s research in the 1950s found no difference between gay and straight men in respect to mental health. Homosexual behavior, like heterosexual behavior, is a normal part of human bonding and sexuality. Homosexuality isn’t something new or regional, it has been documented during many different time periods and within many different cultures. After a lot of research and clinical experience, all mainstream medical and mental health organizations in the U.S. have concluded that both heterosexuality and homosexuality are natural and normal parts of human…

    • 1430 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The way we view homosexuality has very much to do with how we were raised and taught depending on where we are from, our parents beliefs and what others around us tell us. Because of this we believe what we believe and will stand by them unless we ourselves come to a different conclusion as we grow older. I was raised a Catholic and was taught by the Bible teachings that homosexuality was wrong and will go to hell if that is what you practiced. In this paper we will look a little at the historical and scientific perspectives of homosexuality.…

    • 767 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays