Same-Sex Attraction

Gender and Sexuality > Homosexuality
Hot Topics > Same-Sex Marriage
Psychology > Child and Adolescent
Psychology > Disorders

Same-Sex Attraction

Questioning whether same sex attraction is biologically or environmentally determined.

1,427 words () | 10 sources | APA | 2003 Australia

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at two views of the origins of homosexuality - the environmental stance of one's upbringing and the biological viewpoint of an anatomical or genetic linkage. Throughout this paper the writer explores the realm of environmental and biological constructions of male homosexuality, their theorised components and the issues involving treatment.

From the Paper:

"The origin of an individual's sexual orientation embodies a complex political issue both biologically and environmentally. Homosexuality is a controversial topic which lacks a proven scientific foundation due to ambiguous causal inferences and methodological issues (LeVay, 1991; Hamer, 1993). Dr Rudegeair, an American Psychologist, claims that this notorious sexual variation is a product of poor parenting and effeminate behaviour throughout childhood (Burke, 2003). Fuelled by religious dogma this claim is supported by Sydney's Archbishop, Pell who claims that it is treatable (Burke, 2003). Contrary to this environmental stance is the biological viewpoint of an anatomical or genetic linkage."