Sexual Orientation (pg 10)

Sexual Orientation (pg 10)

• Sexual orientation refers to an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, or both sexes

Sexual Orientation (pg 10)

• Sexual orientation refers to an enduring pattern of emotional, romantic, and/or sexual attractions to men, women, or both sexes

• Traditionally defined as heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality (with asexuality a possible 4th category)

• Most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation

• Most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation

• Efforts to change sexual orientation are unlikely to be successful

• Most people experience little or no sense of choice about their sexual orientation

• Efforts to change sexual orientation are unlikely to be successful

• Early childhood experiences, sexual abuse, parenting, and other life events do not appear to influence sexual orientation, but they may alter sexual expression and behavior

Kinsey scale

• 0 = completely heterosexual• 3 = equally attracted to men and women• 6 = completely homosexual

• Women are more likely than men to fall near the middle of the scale

Biological Causes of Sexual Orientation

1. GeneticsIdentical twins are more likely to share a sexual

orientation than fraternal twins, suggesting a genetic component

2. Prenatal HormonesLevels of testosterone in the womb may

influence sexual orientation

2. Prenatal HormonesLevels of testosterone in the womb may

influence sexual orientationFinger length ratio, which is controlled by

prenatal hormones, is different in lesbians than in straight women

2. Prenatal HormonesLevels of testosterone in the womb may influence

sexual orientationFinger length ratio, which is controlled by

prenatal hormones, is different in lesbians than in straight women

Birth order: Men with older brothers are more likely to be gay because of an immune response from the mother.

Research (pg 11) • Twin studies• Chromosome linkage studies• Epigenetics studies• Birth order• Brain structure• Biological differences in gay men and lesbians• Sexual orientation and evolution (the “gay uncle

hypothesis”)• A topic of your choice related to sexual

orientation