Sex Exam 2 -- Sexual Orientation

How might facial symmetry contribute to sexual orientation?

Heterosexuals have more symmetrical faces than gays and lesbians. May be related to "Gaydar" and there is a possible tie to prenatal hormones.

What did Evelyn Hooker's research revealed?

Hooker's research demonstrated that gay men are just as well-adjusted as straight men.

How might identical twin research reveal hormonal contributions to sexual orientation?

Identical twins are more likely to share the same sexual orientation than fraternal twins. Both twins are gay in about 20% of twin pairings that have at least one gay brother. Genetics probably plays some role.

When was homosexuality finally not listed in the DSM as a psych disorder?

In 1974.

Rates of interracial and interreligious relationships are highest among which couples?

Interracial and interreligious relationships are highest among same-sex couples and lowest among opposite sex couples

How accurate was Kinsey's estimate of the prevalence of homosexuality?

Kinsey estimated that 1 in 10 people are homosexual were probably artificially too high due to non-random sampling.

What type of couple has the highest average household income?

Male same-sex couples have the highest household average income, while female same-sex couples have the lowest.

What is the main biopsychosocial theory for sexual orientation?

The "exotic becomes erotic" theory

What is sexual fluidity?

-The popular belief is that man's sexuality is hardwired, but women's is category-specific. -Diamond found that some women appear to adapt their sexual and romantic attraction to specific persons instead of overall categories -Biology creates predispositions that are affected by environmental factors -Not clear why some women are fluid and others are not.

How do women have more erotic plasticity than men?

-Women's sexual behavior is more responsive to cultural and situational pressures -Several more recent studies have found that heterosexual women tend to show bisexual patterns of attraction -Suggests that sexual orientation might be organized differently in men and women's brains

How might differences in brain structures contribute to sexual orientation?

1) A study found that differences in hypothalamic structure size based on sexuality -- confounded with having AIDS 2) fMRI research shows that there are differences in amygdala and brain symmetry based upon sexuality

What are other early psychological theories of sexual orientation?

1) Absent fathers 2) Conditioning

Describe the 6 steps in the exotic becomes erotic theory.

1) Biological variables - genetics and exposure to prenatal hormones 2) Childhood temperaments - differences in activity levels, aggression and other factors 3) Gender nonconforming or conforming behaviors 4) Feelings of difference from same-sex or different sex peers 5) Physiological arousal to same/different sex peers 6) Erotic attraction to same/different sex peers

What are the biological and hormonal theories regarding sexual orientation?

1) Differences in brain structures (hypothalamus, amygdala, and brain symmetry) 2) Facial symmetry 3) Which hand is your dominant hand 4) 2D:4D finger-length ratios 5) Number of older brothers 6) Identical twin prevalence 7) Prenatal hormone exposure

What is some additional evidence for the prenatal androgen exposure hypothesis?

1) Gay men have been found to have larger genitals in some studies (but not all) 2) Lesbian women and gay men have higher circulating androgen levels 3) Lesbian women are better at visual-spacial tasks than heterosexual women

What are the 4 types of sexual prejudice?

1) Homophobia: negative attitudes toward gays and lesbians 2) Heterosexism: assumption that everyone is heterosexual 3) Biphobia: negative attitudes towards bisexuals 4) Monosexism: belief that exclusive attraction to one sex is the norm

How do 2D:4D finger ratios relate to sexual orientation?

1) In men, the index finger is shorter than the ring finger 2) In women, they're the same length 3) Lesbians have digit ratios in-between men and women 4) Some evidence that gay males have a more masculinized digit ratio

What are 2 recent trends in same-sex parenting?

1) Lesbian baby boom: in the 1980s sperm banks were opened for lesbians 2) Gay baby boom: in the 2000s, gay adoption became much more accepted

What are 7 sexual orientation myths?

1) Male bisexuality doesn't exist 2) Gay partners must designate a "husband" and "wife" 3) Gay parents raise gay kids 4) Homosexuality is correlated with pedophilia 5) Gay men are more promiscuous 6) Bisexual people can't be faithful 7) Most people who have HIV or AIDS are gay or bisexual men (false on a worldwide scale - the vast majority of infections are among heterosexual people and 1/2 of those infections are attributable to women)

What are the 3 pieces of evidence supporting the fact that there is a growing acceptance of more sexual fluidity in males?

1) More reports of straight males having sex with other men 2) Less shame and more acceptance - may lead to more acceptance of the idea 3) Many of these men report that female partners are more threatened by these issues

Describe 3 differences between sexual orientation and sexual behavior.

1) Not everyone who has sex with a person of the same gender is homosexual 2) There are many people who enjoy sex with members of the same sex, but who's primary orientation is heterosexual 3) Bro-sex

What are the consequences of sexual prejudice?

1) Physical violence (hate crimes) 2) Discrimination 3) Chronic stress

What has research on same-sex couples revealed?

1) Same sex parents have a more positive relationship with their kids 2) There are no differences that have been found in gender role behavior, sexual orientation, cognition development, health or gender identity 3) Children of same sex parents have been shown to have better psychological adjustment 4) Same sex parents reports a higher level of stress

What are the 3 evolutionary theories for sexual orientation?

1) The "gay uncle" hypothesis 2) Homosexuality as a byproduct of female fertility 3) Alloparenting hypothesis

Overall, how many same-sex couples have kids?

17.3% of same-sex couples have kids - with female same-sex couples twice as likely than male same-sex couples to have kids.

What is a continuum measurement of sexual orientation?

A continuum measurement allows for more variability and possibility of change in a person's sexual orientation.

What is asexuality?

Asexuality is having no interest in partnered sexual activities

What is pansexual?

Attraction to all sexes and gender identities

Which is more common, homophobia or biphobia?

Biphobia.

What is the "Exotic becomes erotic" theory?

Developed by Daryl Bem, this theory suggests that temperaments predispose us to gender conformity or non conformity. Those we see ourselves as different from become exotic. These feelings of difference then create arousal that later becomes erotic in nature. Seems to explain male homosexuality better than female sexuality.

What were Freud's theories regarding sexual orientation?

Freud argues that humans are polymorphously perverse and that homosexuality stems from fixation while passing through certain developmental stages.

What is gay affirmative therapy?

Gay affirmative therapy is encouraged by the APA to help people cope with the stigma they might face.

How might handedness relate to sexual orientation?

Gays and lesbians are more likely to be left handed.

What have more recent studies reported for the prevalence of homosexuality?

More recent studies have produced highly variable estimates depending on how the question was asked. More women will 'fess up to having sex with another woman, but more men identify as gay.

What is polymorphously perverse?

Polymorphously perverse means that we can derive pleasure from almost anything.

How does prenatal hormone exposure relate to sexual orientation?

Prenatal hormone exposure probably explains most of the previous effects, however none of these effects are true 100% of the time which suggests that something else is at play -> epigenetics.

What is sexual orientation?

Sexual orientation is the unique pattern of sexual and romantic desire, behavior, and identity each person expresses.

What is sexual prejudice?

Sexual prejudice is prejudice that stems from one's actual or perceived sexuality.

What might cause sexual prejudice?

Sexual prejudice may stem from religion, intergroup contact, fear of one's own sexuality, etc.

What is the Kinsey Scale?

The Kinsey Scale is a continuum measure of a person's sexual orientation. It goes like this: 0 - Exclusively heterosexual 1 - Mostly heterosexual, incidentally homosexual 2 - Mostly heterosexual, w/ significant homosexual experience 3 - Equally heterosexual and homosexual 4 - Mostly homosexual with significant heterosexual experience 5 - Mostly homosexual, incidentally heterosexual 6 - Exclusively homosexual

What is the alloparenting hypothesis?

The alloparenting hypothesis suggests that having a "flexible sexuality might have been adaptive for helping women find mates if their children's father was not in the picture.

What is the gay uncle hypothesis?

The gay uncle hypothesis suggests that gay men exist in order to support their relatives' children.

How might the number of older brothers a man has contribute to his sexual orientation?

The more older brothers a man has, the more likely he is to be gay. Each male offspring results in altered androgen levels. More older brothers is also associated with more masculinized digit ratios.