Preview

Nature vs. Nurture: Etiology of Homosexuality

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1435 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Nature vs. Nurture: Etiology of Homosexuality
Nature vs Nurture

Nature vs. Nurture
The etiology of homosexuality has been debated throughout the years by many different organizations. “Sexual orientation refers to a dispositional sexual attraction towards persons of the opposite sex or same sex” (Rahman, 2005, p. 1057). Many homosexuals are elated to find that genetics is at least partly a source of sexual orientation. On the other hand many do not want the specific genes to be found for fear that they will be used to eliminate homosexuality in the future. Homosexuality was once thought by the American Psychological Association (APA) to be a disorder or a disease. As of 1973 the APA removed homosexuality from its list of diagnoses. Despite research proving that homosexuality is genetic, there are still people who claim sexual orientation is a choice. The purpose of this essay is to highlight the proof that homosexuality is not a choice in humans or animals proven by research done by different geneticists.
One prominent study that shows up in research based off sexual orientation is known as the fraternal birth order (FBO). Research suggests the FBO is significant in the search for the etiology of homosexuality. The FBO states that having a larger number of older brothers increases the chances of homosexuality (Hughes, 2006, p. 196). Furthermore with each older brother the probability is increased by thirty-three percent. With such drastic odds as evidence the FBO clearly points to genetic link to homosexuality.
According to a study led by Dr. Brendan Zietsch of the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Brisbane, Australia genes explain about twenty-seven percent of an individual’s gender identity (“Gender bending,” 2008). Genetics undoubtedly holds some responsible for sexual orientation. Many studies highlight a certain genetic marker of DNA known as Xq28 as a key element of sexual orientation. Geneticist Dean Hamer and colleagues discovered during their research that homosexual brothers



References: Abrams, M. (2007). BORN GAY?. Discover, 28(6), 58-83. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete. No doi listed. Gay California student 's slaying sparks outcry (March 28, 2008). Retrieved from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23847511/ns/us_news-education Gender bending (2008). Economist, 389(8603), 97. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete. No doi listed. Hughes, J. (2006). A general review of recent reports on homosexuality and lesbianism. Sexuality & Disability, 24(4), 195-205. doi:10.1007/s11195-006-9025-5. Insufficient evidence that sexual orientation change efforts work, says APA (August 5, 2009). Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2009/08/therapeutic.aspx Mooallem, J. (March 29, 2010). Can animals be gay?. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/04/magazine/04animals-t.html?pagewanted=all Rahman, Q. (2005). The neurodevelopment of human sexual orientation. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 29(7), 1057-1066. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2005.03.002. Same-sex behavior common across animal species, review finds (June 16, 2009). Retrieved from http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/blogs/news/chiefeditor/2009/06/same-sex-behavior-common-in-animals.html

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    Despite a great deal of research, one concrete cause for homosexuality hasn’t been found. The cause could be hormonal, genetic, biological, environmental, social, or many of these things. In her review of Simon Levay’s book, Gay, Straight, and the…

    • 1430 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many areas of science resolve the issue of homosexuality as a sexual ethics dilemma by analysing the causes of homosexuality. Sigmund Freud claimed that homosexuality is a personality disorder resulting from a person’s failure to deal with repressed issues of sexuality from infancy and to develop fully into mature sexuality. He claimed that the causes of homosexuality simply trace back to the relationship between a child and their parents. Many researchers believe that homosexuality may be the result of an imbalance of the hormones or a genetic disorder. Both these arguments go some way to solving this dilemma as both conclusions suggest that homosexuality is not a moral choice and cannot be prevented or supressed.…

    • 1143 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Cited: Kangas, Steve. "Homosexuality is Biologically Determined." Gay Politics. 7 Nov. 1997. Rpt. In Homosexuality: Opposing viewpoints. Ed. Mary E. Williams. San Diego: Greenhaven, 1999. 17-21…

    • 882 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cited: ProCon.org. "Is There a ‘Gay’ Gene?" BornGay.ProCon.org. ProCon.org, 1 Jan. 2011. Web. 9 Jan. 2011.…

    • 887 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In this paper will be discussing how biological factors such as nature, i.e. genetics and other environmental influences factor in to our sexual orientation and gender identity. Next I will focus the discussion based upon my evaluation of the nature versus nurture agreement, and decide which one has a larger influence over gender identity be it nature or nurture. Lastly, the paper will talk about current arguments in biopsychology might be able to help with bringing about a resolution to this debate.…

    • 1428 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Best Essays

    Haldeman, Douglas C. “The Practice and Ethics of Sexual Orientation Conversion Therapy.” Psychological Perspectives on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Experiences. 3rd ed. Ed. Linda D. Garnets and Douglas C. Kimmel. New York: Columbia UP, 2003. 681-98. Print.…

    • 3097 Words
    • 13 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Better Essays

    "There are numerous theories about the origins of a person's sexual orientation; most scientists today agree that sexual orientation is most likely the result of a complex interaction of environmental, cognitive and biological factors. In most people, sexual orientation is shaped at an early age. There is also considerable recent evidence to suggest that biology, including genetic or inborn hormonal factors, play a significant role in a person's sexuality. In summary, it is important to recognize that there are…

    • 1947 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    An additional perspective that has influenced the way in which homosexuals perceive themselves pertains to scientific factors.…

    • 1057 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Defense of Marriage Act

    • 924 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Being exposed to both the male and female sex, is important to the developmental needs of children because it helps them form their sexual identity. Being raised by parents of the same sex can make a difference in the way the child is developed. Even newborn infants can distinguish the differences between a male and female. A study by Susan Turrell found that relationship violence was a significant problem for homosexuals. Forty-four percent of gay men reported having experienced violence in their relationship; 13 percent reported sexual violence and 83 percent reported emotional abuse. (vol 13, pp 281-293). A researcher named Henry Biller and written several books on this topic:…

    • 924 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    for the year 1974: Minutes of the annual meeting of the Council of Representatives. American Psychologist, 30, 620 – 651.…

    • 2657 Words
    • 14 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Good Essays

    In 1992, Vice-President Dan Quayle said that homosexuality "is more of a choice than a biological situation...It is a wrong choice." (PBS). Quayle's statement counters the sentiment of many homosexuals that their sexual orientation is neither a lifestyle nor a personal choice, it is innate and unchangeable. The question as to whether homosexuals are born gay, or through some experience or mere choice, choose to be that way is one that has brought about a significant amount of conflict throughout the last decade. There is a common belief according to liberals that people are either born gay or straight. Conservatives believe that sexual orientation is actually a choice made by the individual. Much of the current media presume that the answer to the question is a solved scientific problem in which all evidence points to a biological, most likely genetic, basis for a homosexual orientation. However this question has been researched very lightly, yet there is still evidence defending both sides. Also, many of the studies that have led people and the media to believe that sexual orientation has a biological basis, have been contradicted later by more in depth studies. The evidence covers 2 major studies; studies pertaining to the human brain including the possible differences in hormonal influences, and how environmental factors such as abusive childhood experiences can affect sexual orientation. Until recently, sexual orientation was simply deemed sexual preference. The two clearly have very different meanings which has led the term to be considered politically incorrect since the two terms vary largely regarding the manner as by which sexuality develops. A preference is a choice, whereas orientation is merely something that defines us and that we have no control over. These differences become important when their rights are put into the hands of the law, separate from the…

    • 761 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Growing Up Gay

    • 2664 Words
    • 11 Pages

    The debate over homosexuality as nature or nurture dominates most topics about homosexuality. People often confuse the nature/nurture issue with the development of gay identity. In fact, the nature/nurture argument plays a small, insignificant role concerning gay youths (Walling 11). Homosexual identity is the view of the self as…

    • 2664 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Simon Levay

    • 1045 Words
    • 5 Pages

    By 1991, he’d graduated from Cambridge, Göttingen, and Harvard Medical School and served as an instructor in the department of neurobiology, the assistant and associate professor of neurobiology, and affiliate and member of the working committee for the neurobiology program at Harvard Medical School (LeVay, “Curriculum Vitae”). He became interested in studying the brains of people who were attracted to the same sex when he read a study published by Laura Allen and her colleagues that reported that the “nerve cells in the hypothalamus of rats was ‘sexually dimorphic’, that is, different in size between the sexes” (LeVay, “My Life”). Intrigued, LeVay decided to do a blind study (“meaning that the individual brain specimens are coded so that you don’t know which specimen comes…

    • 1045 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Sexual Orientation

    • 1154 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Some believe that sexual orientation is not a choice and that it is developed at conception. The individuals are unable to choose to be homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, or asexual (Stein 2011). Current scientific investigation seeks to find biological explanations for a person’s sexual orientation. Research has identified several biological factors which may be related to the development of sexual orientation including genetic, hormonal, developmental, social, and cultural factors but there…

    • 1154 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Children of Gay Fathers

    • 685 Words
    • 3 Pages

    CHILDREN OF GAY FATHERSThere is a lot of controversy over the status of children of gay fathers. Some say the children struggle more than other kids. Yet, others say that the children excel more due to being put in the spotlight. Also, there has been some speculation over when the fathers should come clean to their kids. They worry about damaging their self-esteem and grieving over their loss of innocence. The fathers who don’t discuss this issue with their kids are concerned that they will lead deeply conflicted lives and present parenting styles that constitute psychological distance. The parenting styles are not much different though. The fathers understand that they are being watched from a distance more than traditional fathers are. Their movements and actions are criticized at a much higher rate. How they deal with situations and react to problems are being looked at by traditional parents. Normally, gay fathers try to create a more stable home environment and more positive relationships with their children than traditional heterosexual parents. They provide more nurturing and in having less traditional parenting attitudes.There have been two studies over the years combating these issues. One is Green, 1978, and the other was Weeks, Derdeyn, and Langman, 1975. They used the same psychological tests on both studies for the children, but came up with the same conclusion that the parents sexuality has little to do with the sexuality of their offspring. But, there is a problem with each of those studies. In the Weeks, Derdeyn, and Langman study, the researchers only tested two children. And in the Green study, the kids were kin of only lesbian mothers or children of successful sex-change surgery, not gay fathers. So, does this make the studies true? Some say yes because gay fathers are characterized enough with the heterosexual field. They are enough alike for the studies to be conclusive. The purpose of this short…

    • 685 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays