Nature-Nurture

Ask anyone about their sexual orientation, and they will most likely say something like, "I was born this way."*

However, demonstrating how such a situation comes about is technically difficult. "Proving"** it is even more problematic. This blog is an ongoing collection of research abstracts related to the complex question of etiology of sexual orientation. Whatever the etiology, it is not solely environmental factors. If it were, everyone would be heterosexual.

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"[A]s much as people like to divide themselves into nature or nurture camps, what genes actually do in the brain reflects the interaction between hereditary and environmental information."

"The truth of the matter is that DNA is both inherited and environmentally responsive, and recent findings from animal studies go a long way toward resolving nature versus nurture by upsetting the assumption that the two work differently."

Gene E. Robinson, PhD, Director of the Neuroscience Program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, in The New York Times op-ed article titled "The Behavior of Genes," published on Dec. 13, 2004

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"There are numerous theories about the origins of a person's sexual orientation; most scientists today agree that sexual orientation is most likely the result of a complex interaction of environmental, cognitive and biological factors. In most people, sexual orientation is shaped at an early age. There is also considerable recent evidence to suggest that biology, including genetic or inborn hormonal factors, play a significant role in a person's sexuality. In summary, it is important to recognize that there are probably many reasons for a person's sexual orientation and the reasons may be different for different people."

American Psychological Association, in "Answers to Your Questions for a Better Understanding of Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality"

"APA opposes all public and private discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived gender identity and expression and urges the repeal of discriminatory laws and policies."

Read the Full-text of APA’s APA Resolution on Transgender, Gender Identity, and Gender Expression Non-Discrimination.

More information on APA Policy Statements, as well as other activities and resources, is available at the APA Office of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns.

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"No one knows what causes heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality. Homosexuality was once thought to be the result of troubled family dynamics or faulty psychological development. Those assumptions are now understood to have been based on misinformation and prejudice. Currently there is a renewed interest in searching for biological etiologies for homosexuality. However, to date there are no replicated scientific studies supporting any specific biological etiology for homosexuality. Similarly, no specific psychosocial or family dynamic cause for homosexuality has been identified, including histories of childhood sexual abuse. Sexual abuse does not appear to be more prevalent in children who grow up to identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, than in children who identify as heterosexual." [emphasis mine]

American Psychiatric Association, in "Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Fact Sheet," May 2000

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* Heterosexuals are more likely to say something along the lines of, "Of course I am this way. I am normal." This signifies nothing more than the obvious: the process of natural selection inherently favors reproductive success. Heterosexual inclinations favor reproductive success, so genes coding for heterosexual neurobehavioral-development necessarily flourish.

** Proof is confined to mathematics and specially constructed philosophical syllogisms. Within the sciences, the problem of induction renders proof a logical impracticality.