What Causes Homosexuality - 996 Words

What Causes Homosexuality? What causes homosexuality? There has been much debate about what causes homosexuality. Is there a gay gene? Is homosexuality caused by environmental factors, such as upbringing, child molestation, an absent mother or affectionate father? Or is it something we’re born with, an inherited trait, like skin or hair color? Although there have been few studies on the cause of homosexuality, the debate seems to be divided, with scientists in one corner and religious fundamentalists in another. What is Sexual Orientation? The American Psychological Association defines sexual orientation as such: Sexual orientation is an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual, or affectional attraction that a person feels toward†¦show more content†¦Studies of identical and fraternal twins suggest that there is a genetic influence on sexual orientation. If being gay were strictly genetic, then in identical twins, there would be a 100% concordance rate for sexual orientation. But one study in 1995 found a 52% correlation for male identical twins and 22% for male fraternal twins. A study on females came up with similar results. If one identical twin was a lesbian, in 48% of cases, the other twin was also a lesbian. For fraternal twins, the concordance was 16%. (source Simon LeVay) These studies show that people with the same genetic make up (identical twins) are more likely to share sexual orientation than those with different genetic make up (fraternal twins.) Genetics alone cannot cause sexual orientation, but they do play a part. Is there a gay gene? Scientists have not been able to conclude that there is any gene or combination of genes that will make someone gay. Genetics is very complex and scientists continue to study both humans and animals chromosomes for linkage to sexual orientation. What about the gay brain study? A widely publicized study in 1999 found that a certain part of the hypothalamus was smaller in gay men then in heterosexual men. This study was widely touted at the time as â€Å"proof† that one’s sexual orientation is biological and not chosen. But it is not known whether these differences in brain are present at birth or ifShow MoreRelatedHomosexuality : What Causes Homosexuality?1404 Words   |  6 PagesCharizma Bush What causes homosexuality? During my abnormal psychology section in class something that stuck out to me was how homosexuality used to be a diagnosed disorder which is fascinating to me. Also the fact that sexual orientation is on a scale from 100% heterosexual to 100% homosexual and no one is fully either one. Knowing this I thought about the new national same-sex marriage law and how it brought up a lot of controversy recently that has been a struggle for years and years. There areRead MoreHomosexuality : Nature And Nature871 Words   |  4 PagesHomosexuality: Nature or nurture By: Clifnie francois Advance Placement Psychology Mr. Cuetara June 4 2015 Abstract 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 environmentalRead MoreTheories of Homosexuality849 Words   |  4 PagesTheories of Homosexuality Through the biological perspective of deviance, sociologists have linked homosexuality to hormones, genes and the brain (Taylor, Thio Schwartz, 2013). Hormonal theory does not describe a cause of homosexuality. Genetic Theory describes the cause of homosexuality as people being born gay. The brain theory is much more in depth about the cause of homosexuality. It states that the size of a person’s hypothalamus will cause them to be homosexual or not. Gay’s hypothalamusesRead MoreHomosexuality As A Psychological Disorder1511 Words   |  7 PagesThe social argument for homosexuality dates back to the ancient Greeks. Aristophanes, in his Symposium investigates homosexuality, although not termed as such, as a desire by men to share a long-term fulfillment of the soul. He believed that two souls are longing to be together, and the sexual desire alone is not strong enough to create homosexuality, but that the cultural environment allows or forbids the relationship to occur (Heffner, 2003). The debate about homosexuality dates back further thanRead MoreHomosexuality And Its Effects On Society Essay1650 Words   |  7 PagesMany people believe and have debated whether or not homosexuality is a choice that one freely makes, while others believe a combination of genetics, hormones and environment have a factor in one’s sexuality and sexual development. Homosexuality is something one cannot choose to be. Primarily, homosexuality can be defined as a romantic or sexual attraction that involves people of the same gender. Male homosexuals are referred to as gays while the female ones are called lesbians. Ideally, since timeRead MoreGay Marriage Is Morally Wrong1616 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"My differences shouldn’t define who I am† (Bily 48). Let us face it, Homosexuals are people just like everyone else. So what, just because they are attracted to the same sex does not make them â€Å"extraterrestrial.† That is not the case at all, but surprisingly many people think that way. As homosexuality has become an emerging topic since the Eighties, people have been hitching onto bandwagons about gay marriage being morally wrong. Is it though? Consider this: was this country built off of argumentsRead MoreThe Moral View Of Homosexuality1708 Words   |  7 Pagesargument of homosexuality being considered moral or immoral has been an argument for as long as humans have been in existence. This argument has been viewed by philological experts and people all over the world for centuries and it continues to be a major argument today. The moral view of homosexuality has many arguments, but the arguments that are going to be mentioned are the normative ethics argument, the argument on why the moral law is true when it comes to homosexuality, and why homosexuality shouldRead MoreHomosexuality: Nature vs. Nurture Essay1208 Words   |  5 Pagesdebate. For being as commonly debated and discussed as it is, there are many q uestions 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? Sexual Orientation The question of what sexual orientation actually is and how to define it is a very common question within itself. Sexual orientationRead MoreHomosexuality And Its Effect On Society924 Words   |  4 Pages However, homosexuality can also be defined as a sin. First Corinthians 6:18, â€Å"Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexual immoral person sins against his own body.† Many people look down on homosexuality because it is unmoral. This immorality caused great debates, and stirred up hatred between various individuals. Furthermore, these arguments forced homosexuals to fight for acceptance and equality across the nation. Homosexuality was anotherRead MoreHomosexuality Paper -Philosophy1526 Words   |  7 PagesIs Homosexuality Right Or Wrong? by Nazha Gali My topic is homosexuality and the natural law theory. The natural law theory, which was founded by Aquinas, rests on a certain view that the world has a rational order with values and purposes built into its very nature. And since homosexuality is against the orders of nature, the natural law theory totally condemns it. I disagree with this point of view because I choose not to judge homosexuals but instead I accept them as members of our society.