Ch. 13: Sexual Orientation Flashcards
homophobia
a strong, irrational fear of homosexuals (negative attitudes & reactions to homosexuals)- misuse of the word “phobia”
what is a better psychological term than homophobia?
anti-gay prejudice
% of hate crimes towards LGBs
14% of LGBs have been assaulted with a weapon because of sexual orientation
Heteronormativity
the belief that heterosexuality is the norm
how do kids end up in gay families?
- adoption
- assisted fertilization
- re-marriage (other relationships)
what does the data show about kids growing up in gay families?
shows no differences in difficulties w/ peers, adjustment, etc. btwn hetero & homo households
how does gay activism show up?
- began w/ stonewall protests, 1969
- national lgbtq taskforce
- lambda legal
what percentage of men & women engaged in sex to orgasm at least 1 time with someone of their own sex
37% men
13% women
typology of sexuality
sexuality is seen as a binary of hetero vs. homo
kinsey’s continuum
0 6
0- exclusively hetero
1-5- spectrum of diff degrees of experience with each sexuality
6- exclusively homo
3 components of sexual orientation
1) behavior
2) attraction
3) identity
they can be inconsistent with each other
ex: someone who has experienced attraction to members of their own gender but has not acted on it
what % of men & women are exclusively hetero?
90%
sexual fluidity
changes that occur over time in an individual’s sexual attractions, identity, or behavior
diamond’s study
- young women (non-hetero) followed longitudinally
- over 8 years, individuals changes in all directions
- consistent with queer theory that sexual orientation is fluid
sex orientation & mental health
population studies showed that LGBs have a higher rate of depression & suicide attempts (9.4% LGB vs 2% straight) b/c of more exposure to prejudice & violence, lack of support from family & friends, & minority stress model
what is the bottom line about conversion therapy?
it dosen’t work & it’s harmful
what are the biological theories for LGBs?
genetic factors, prenatal factors, brain factors & hormones lead to LGB
Pillard & Beiley LGB genetic twin study findings
genetics play a role in LGBs, but there are other components that also play a role (no genetic pre-determination)
Human Genome Project Findings for LGBs
the complexity of genetic influences signify that there won’t be one “gene for homosexuality”, although there are 3 genes that have been linked to homosexuality so far
Prenatal theory for LGBs
theory that there’s a critical period in prenatal development, months 2-5 where extreme stress to the mother can result in homosexuality (seen in sheep & birds)– may show role of experience in developing the brain
fraternal birth order effect
more older brothers stimulates mother’s body to produce antibodies against an antigen produced by the Y chromosome (H-Y antigen) which affects the brain development of male children causing an estimated 15-30% gay men (effect not found in lesbians)
LeVay study
cells in the hypothalamus of gay men are more like the cells of heterosexual women than heterosexual men (this study is not reliable or valid, but it is famous)
Hormone imbalance hypothesis for LGBs
theory that gay men are low on testosterone and lesbians are low on estrogen but studies show that there are no hormonal differences between straight and gay men (same for women)
Innate bisexuality
babies are born with the ability to be attracted to whomever and sexual orientation is channeled by reinforcements & punishments (data don’t support this theory)
