Chapter 13: sexual orientation

Question 1

Sexual fluidity

Answer 1

Changes that can occur over time in sexual attraction, behaviour and orientation.

Question 2

Positive aspects that are more common in same-gender couples

Answer 2

• Respecting and appreciating individual differences.
• Generating positive emotions and interactions.
• Effectively communicating and negotiating.
• Egalitarian ideals / free form gender roles.

Question 3

Prevalence of LGB

Answer 3

• Same gender sexual experience: 6% of men and 17% of women.
• Sexual attraction to the same gender: 4% of men and women.
• Homosexual identity: 2% of men and 1% of women.

Question 4

Sexual orientation and mental health

Answer 4

There is a higher rates among homosexuals for depression, anxiety and suicide. This is because they experience more maltreatment, discrimination, violence, lack of support and rejection. They often do have a high level of resilience.

Question 5

Biological theory about homosexuality

Answer 5

Genetics account for 50%. Homosexuality is possibly influences by genes on the 7, 8, 10 and X chromosome.
–> Best supported theory, but more research is needed.

Question 6

Prenatal factory theory of homosexuality

Answer 6

Homosexuality is caused by a variation in development during the critical time (development of the hypothalamus).

Question 7

Differences in homo and heterosexual brains

Answer 7

There are systematic differences and the hypothalamic cells of gay men are more similar to those of females.
Flaws in this research: small sample size, all gay participants died of AIDS, heterosexuals were just presumed hetero, no lesbians included.

Question 8

Pheromone theory

Answer 8

Gay men and straight women get excited from male pheromones.
Straight men and gay women get excited form female pheromones.

Question 9

Hormone differences between homo and heterosexuals

Answer 9

There are no hormonal differences found, but homosexuality used to be treated with testosterone therapy, which only increased the sex drive.

Question 10

Learning theory

Answer 10

Humans have an undifferentiated and unshaped sex drive that can be influenced into several directions (like homosexuality), depending on their rewards and their punishments.

Question 11

Sociological theory

Answer 11

Homosexuality can work as a selffulfilling prophecy: when you call someone gay as an insult, he/she can start to notice the slightest stereotypical gay behaviours and start to become more like that.

Question 12

Reiss’s sociological theory of human sexuality

Answer 12

1. Negative pathway: fathers are not presents enough to teach boys the stereotypical male behaviour or they might move against it.
2. Positive pathway: in less rigid society’s people feel more free to experiment and can become homosexual.

Question 13

Differences between gays and lesbians

Answer 13

Women are more likely to be bisexual instead of lesbian. Woman are more sexual fluid and they show both arousal to male and female stimuli (also if their lesbian).