Essay Questioning Sexual Orientation

Submitted By giuli-roisenzvit
Words: 567
Pages: 3

Questioning Sexual Orientation. In modern United States, though it is not widely accepted, homosexuality is one of the most widely known and talked about topics. Although many concepts from psychology can help explain the tendency why one may question their sexual orientation, the behavior and biological perspective are the two most used. Some psychologists argue that homosexual behavior is learned through the environment while others believe it is a genetic component (Ciccarelli, 2010). Those that believe in behaviorism, which by definition is “the science of behavior that focuses on observable behavior only”, argue that sexual orientation is based on culture and environmental influences (Ciccarelli, 2010). Some research has shown that males that have multiple brothers or a strong male role model are said to be more susceptible to being gay (Hickey, 2011). The general stereotype for being gay is feminine like behavior and a nice sense of style. Today’s media has given multiple examples such as Jack from Will and Grace (Johnson, 2013). Many may argue with this serotype but studies have actually shown that a common behavior for homosexual men is that as a child they are more feminine than masculine. Psychologist J.M. Bailey determined that about three fourths of males that show these signs as children will grow up to be homosexual (Ciccarelli, 2010). The major controversy associated with these beliefs is that it implies homosexuality is a choice (Ciccarelli, 2010). The biopsychological perspective suggests that is not really a choice but more of what biology states. A monumental amount of research has been done over the past couple decades on the differences of the brain of a heterosexual man and a homosexual man, the genetic components, and even parental influences of sexual orientation (Ciccarelli, 2010). One study says that women that experience a large amount of stress during the second trimester of pregnancy are more likely to have a child who is gay. Another study shows that homosexual males and heterosexual women respond in the same way to a testosterone-based pheromone that is found in one’s sweat. Tests have also been done on twins and siblings, researcher’s have found that fifty-two percent of identical twins are both gay as opposed to twenty-two percent of fraternal twins