Anabelle Dunn

FHS 2450: Introduction to Human Sexuality

10/17/2018

Question:

What factors could cause a person’s sexual orientation?

Answer:

A person’s sexual orientation defines who they are attracted to. There is a wide variation

of sexualities from pansexual to asexual. We know what these sexualities entail but what exactly

causes them? Could a person’s sexuality be caused by their culture? It may even be something

genetic that the person can’t completely control.

90% of homosexuals believe that they were born gay (Knox & Milstein, 2017). They

think that something biological influenced their sexual orientation. There are 3 biological factors

that may influence sexual orientation: genetics, prenatal hormones, and postpubertal hormones.

Genetics influence many things about a person such as their eye and hair color. But unlike eye

and hair color, there hasn’t been a confirmed gene that influences sexuality (Knox & Milstein,

2017). There have been studies on twins and 31.6% of identical twins would both have

homosexual orientation. These supports that they inherited the same genetic for homosexuality.

There is also evidence that men with homosexual older brothers are more likely to be

homosexual as well (Knox & Milstein, 2017).

 “Hormonal and neurological factors operating prior to birth, between the second and fifth

month of gestation, are the ‘main determinants of sexual orientation’ (Ellis & Ames, 1987, p.

235)” (Knox & Milstein, 2017, Pg. 243). Different types of hormones that the fetus’s brain is

exposed to may have an impact on their sexual orientation. They develop of the nervous system

and sex-linked behaviors that influence male or female behaviors (Knox & Milstein, 2017).

Some say this is the time where sexual orientation is determined.

One less likely theory is that postpubertal hormones are the determining factor, though

this seems to only be applicable to a small number of homosexuals. It has had inconclusive

results when it came to calculating the amount of sex hormones of gays versus heterosexual

persons (Knox & Milstein, 2017).

The second factor that may determine sexual orientation is social and cultural.

Determinants could be parent-child interactions and sexual interactions. Sexual orientation could

be caused by “…forces such as peer group, parents, and the mass media. Because these forces

encourage heterosexuality, proponents of these explanations posit that unique environmental

influences account for homosexuality.” (Knox & Milstein, 2017, Pg. 243).

Parent-child interactions state that the interactions between the parent and a child could

cause the child to lean towards more homosexual tendencies. An example would be that a

homosexual male interacts and identifies with his mother while a homosexual female would do

the same with her father (Knox & Milstein, 2017). They learn the behaviors of the opposite sex

which influences their sexual orientation as well.

Sexual interactions is another social factor. This theory says that a person’s sexual

orientation will be determined by positive and negative sexual experiences (Knox & Milstein,
2017). If a person has pleasurable same-sex experiences, then they continue with these

interactions and could cause them to become homosexual. A person could be turned off to the

opposite or same sex because of negative experiences, determining who they choose to have

sexual interactions with in the future.

Sexual orientation has many different forms and also has many theories as to what causes

it. Homosexuals tend to believe that it’s biological while others state that social and cultural

factors determine a person’s orientation. While there is no definitive answer yet, many cultures

have come to accept different sexualities with open arms regardless of how their orientation was

determined.
References:

 Knox, D., & Milstein, S. (2017). Human Sexuality: Making Informed Decisions (5th ed.).
Redding, CA: BVT Publishing.