Question

6. Explain in detail the nature/nurture arguments regarding sexual orientation in psychology.

Answer 1

Sexual orientation and sexual behaviour is an important part of each individual. According to Zucker, sexual orientation is the individuals response to sexual stimuli, which is primarily the sex of the person to whome individuals are attracted. It is the preferance that a person gives to sexual partners and these can be hetrosexuality, homosexuality, bisexuality and celibacy. Hetrosexuality is a widely accepted type of sexual orientation which is the preference for opposite sex. Homosexuality is ones preference for having sex with same sex partner. Bisexuality is giving no particular preference to both sexes. celibacy is ,not engaging in sexual relations with either sex, this may be enforced or by choice such as priesthood.

The nature side of sexual orientation explains the evolutionary or the biological side of sexual orientation while nurture side explains the role of learning and the environmental influence in human sexual behaviour.

Role of nature

The evolutionary determinism states that sexual behaviour is determined by principles of evolution. Besides evolution the genes play a vital role in sexual orientation. The same gene when inherited by a male can produce homosexual behaviour instead if it is inherited by a female will lead to attraction towards men. The prenatal hormone theory states that higher level of antrogen lead to attraction towards females and lower level lead to attraction to males. The instinctual process imprinting, which occurs immediately after birth determines the attachment and sexual orientation of young animals. The idea of imprinting in deciding sexual orientation of humans is difficult to prove but early development can affect adult behaviour. Different studies with Rhesus monkey explained that their lack of social contact lead to inappropriate sexual behaviour. this evidence support the nurture side that is the role of child rearing. Brain studies explains that there are some small differences in certain areas such as hypothalamus. Studies found that the medial preoptic area is smaller in homosexuals when compared to hetrosexuals. Studies also reported some differences in brain wave patterns in the temporal lobe of paraphiliacs.

Role of Nurture

Parenting or early childhood experiences play a vital role in sexual orientation. Lack of love and rejection from parents can lead to sexual dysfunctions. Paternal protection and meternal care are the vulnarability factors which determine sexual orientation. It is also to some extent the result of societal expectation. The childhood gender non-conformity that is the choice of activity (for eg- play patterns) which is consistent with societies gender role expectations will make a gender conforming child feel different from opposite sex children. Nature side also stresses on the role of birth place in deciding sexual orientation. In urban settings there is an increased probability for sexual disfunctions than in rural area. The parents who have multiple children who are living in rural area ,there is an increased chance for a heterosexual type of sexual orientation . An earlier study reported agreement in sexual orientation of monozygotic twins was higher than that of dizygotic twins or twin sibling combination. This study suggested that environment is important because the agreement between dizygotic twins was greater than for one twin and a sibling.

So it is most likely that sexual orientation grows out of the interplay of multiple determinants in which both psychosocial factors and biological factors are important. An interactional approach opens the possibility of multiple pathways to the development of sexual orientation.