Human Sexual Behavior Test 4

-"Distinct preferences consistently made after adolescence in the presence of clear alternatives." Ellis and Arnes (1987)-Orientation is: behavior, affect, and self-identification.-Behavior (who do you want?- gut-level)-Affect (who do you crush on/ fall in love with?)-Self-identification (how do you see yourself?)-Kinsey's definition was much broader- 10% of the population is homosexual- definition is narrowed now- 5%ish of the population is homosexual. Kinsey looked at adolescent sexual identity- We don't now.

-1. Typology: homo/hetero-2. Kinsey's continuum-3. Storm's two dimensional scheme- 4 points- included asexuality.

-Bisexual: capacity to engage in sex and fall in love with members of either sex.-Myth: Bisexuals are just closeted homosexuals. Reality: mixed research suggests that much bisexual behavior remains stable over time, but bisexual self-identity can change, particularly for younger adults. 1/3 young male bisexuals later re-categorize themselves as homosexuals. Among women bi behavior is more common than exclusive homosexuality- self-identification changes over time.

-Homosexuality: sexual orientation which is primarily directed towards members of the same sex.-Myths: Homosexual parents will create homosexual kids and/or coddling boys makes them homosexual. Reality: Research demonstrates that kids raised by homosexual parents are no more likely to be homosexual than kids of heterosexuals. Kids become aware of attraction at very young ages.-1/4-1/3 males have had a homosexual experience to the point of orgasm (Kinsey)-15-20% females ^-Now: 9% of men with any homosexual contact post teens and 4% of women.-Kinsey: 10% exclusively homosexual Today: 3-5% men, 1-2% women.

-Heterosexuality: sexual orientation primarily towards someone of the opposite sex.-Myth: everyone is (or should be) heterosexual, this is the only normal expression of sexuality. Reality: homosexual behavior has been documented over history and time, as well as across species.

-600,000 same-sex couples cohabitating.-60% of gay males concentrated in 20 large cities.-No differences found between cohabitating heterosexual vs. homosexual couples with regard to love, satisfaction, and problems.-Homosexual relationships are characterized by greater role flexibility and partner equality, lower levels of jealousy. Better at being "best friends" more likely to maintain close friendship with exs.-Highest levels of relationship/sexual satisfaction found among lesbians.-Gay males less likely to place a high level of importance on monogamy. (average lifetime number of sexual partners for gay men is 32)-Roughly the same amount of domestic violence as heterosexual couples. Less resources for homosexuals than for heterosexuals for domestic violence.-Some studies suggest most heterosexual problems boil down to power problems.-First 5 year sexual activity: gay, hetero, lesbian- after, gays fall, heteros rise.

-Prejudice and/or discrimination directed towards a homosexual person.-West 1977: hypothesizes that homophobia may be cause by repressed/ latent homosexuality.-Adams et al. 1996: study suggests that West's hypothesis has some merit. Men with highest ratings of homophobia also had highest ratings of erectile arousal related to homosexual porn.- showed them 3 4 minute clips of porn during different sessions. Hetero porn, gay porn, and lesbian porn. Cuff around penis to measure erection. No difference between lesbian and hetero population. 80% of homophobic men had a moderate to definite erection to gay porn. The vast majority of non-homophobic guys had no response to gay male porn.-Not caused by fear because anxiety, stress, distress, etc. inhibits erection in most men.

-Biological theories: Hormonal imbalances- no quantifiable empirical differences in hormones between gay and straight people. Twin concordance studies: 50-60% concordance rates when 1 identical twin is homosexual. Suggests orientation is biologically driven, but not 100% rate.-Prenatal factors: Homosexuals are more likely to have older brothers, increase of homosexuality more than 33% for each older brother (for males, not females)- maternal hormone problem.-Difference in brain structure: Simon LeVay- The sexual brain: autopsies on brains of 19 homosexual and 16 heterosexual men revealed the suprachiasmatic nucleus (part of hypothalamus, responsible for biological drives) was 2 times larger in heterosexual men as in homosexual men.-INAH3- group of cells in hypothalamus typically involved in male sex drive (Simon LeVay). This cluster is larger in guys than girls. Cluster in homosexuals looks like females' clusters.-Gay men respond to LH differently than heterosexual men.-Gay males are more likely to be left handed.

-Psychodynamic: Fixation/regression to Oedipus complex (not empirically validated at all.- Freud kids "imagining" sexual abuse in good victorian society- came up with Oedipal complex). -Mothering- cold and rejecting, over-controlling, jealous and seductive-definite problems with theory.-Social learning theory: learned behavior in which homosexuals have good/positive experiences with same sex and negative experiences with opposite sex during early socialization. Problems with theory: homosexuals report positive experiences with both sexes- some heterosexuals have negative experience with opposite sex. Age 4-12ish- hang around same sex- everyone does it, not everyone is homosexual.-1/7 homosexual males- orientation due to birth order effects. Homosexual contact in childhood in some cultures is normal, still mostly grow up to be heterosexual.

-1. Biological variables influence: 2. temperament, aggression, and activity level, which influence: 3. gender conforming activities, which influence: 4. feelings about the same and opposite sex, which influence: 5. general arousal, which influences: 6. erotic or romantic attraction.

1967 Supreme Court case that declared miscegenation (interracial marriage) laws unconstitutional. 1966 VA Supreme Court of appeals initially upheld the Loving’s conviction of miscegenation, although modified their sentences. The ruling was based on 1924 “Racial Integrity act” (scared we would become a “mongrelized” society- people would just start making babies with different races- minorities were considered 1/5 of a human, so white people were not allowed to marry them). The Lovings appealed their case to the Federal Supreme Court.

Defense of marriage act- 1966 (Clinton)- no state shall be required to give effect to a law of any other state with respect to a same-sex marriage (if same sex couples get married in a legal state and move to an illegal state, that state doesn’t have to recognize the marriage). 11/2003- Massachusetts Supreme Court rules that barring same-sex couples from marrying is unconstitutional- came from Loving case – “consenting adults marry.” Vermont was the first state to recognize civil unions between same-sex couples (2005)- Connecticut, Massachusetts, Iowa, New York, New Hampshire, D.C., and Vermont now allow same sex marriage- also California*. California Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer rules California’s ban on same-sex marriages unconstitutional- 3/2005, legally recognized marriages began in 2007. Proposition 8: California voters chose to rewrite the state constitution to recognize marriage only between a man and a woman (2008)- spearheaded and funded largely by LDS church (Mormon church). Same sex marriage: Netherlands 2001 (first country), Belgium (2003), Canada (2005), Spain (2005), South Africa (2005), Norway (2008).

1993- Kay Bottoms seeks sole custody of grandchild because her daughter (child’s mom) is gay and lives with her partner. 1994 appellate court determines homosexuality not basis to terminate mom’s custody. 1995 VA Supreme Court overturns ruling, grants custody of minor child to grandmother.

1995- Florida: first district court of appeal upholds transfer of custody of 11 year old girl from lesbian mother’s home to father’s home. Father was convicted of murdering his first wife 20 years earlier. 2 courts rule that a convicted murderer will provide a better home than a homosexual.

20^th century has been the most intolerant period of time against homosexuality in western history. Texas’ anti-sodomy (oral and anal sex) law made consensual sex among same sex adults illegal (not illegal for heterosexual people). Struck down by Supreme Court in 2003- extending the right to privacy to homosexuals.