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sexual orientaton
- person's emotional, physical, romantic attraction to one or both sexes
- homo, hetero, and bi
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Psychoanalytic theory of homosexuality
- freud
- developed from parental behaviors
- distant fathers, overbearing mothers
- no research
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Learning theory of homosexuality
- early experiences in development
- bad heterosexual experiences
- no social factor has ever been found completely responsible
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genetic influences of homosexuality
- concordance rate of homosexuality
- identical twins are more likely to be homosexual
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prenatal influences
maternal immune hypothesis: orientation related to # of older brothers he has
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hormonal influences
exposure to prenatal hormones may play a role in orientation
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neuroanatomical influences
- possible brain differences:
- hetorsexual: larger hypothalamus volume
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can orientation be changed?
depends of definition of success: behavior may be changed but attraction usually cant be altered
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coming out
- acknowledging to oneself and others that one is gay or lesbian
- benefits: live openly and honestly, psychologically beneficial
- risks: losing friends, family, and jobs, depressiong, lonely isolation if parents reject them, 18% of hate crimes
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Same-sex vs. other sex relationships
- similarities: desire for stable, long lasting, committed relationships, sharing of intimate feelings
- differences: more egalitarian, lower commitment levels.
- lesbians have a higher relationship satisfaction;
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marriage equality
- US federal gov. does not recognize any form of gay marriage
- some states allow various unions
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Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
limits governments def. of marriage as legal union between one man and one woman
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Title VII of Civil rights Act
- guarantees protection against discrimination in emplyment
- sexual orientation is not included
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Employment Nondiscrimination Act (ENDA)
hasnt been passed by congress
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Health issues of homosexual
- higher rates of depression, anxiety, and PTSD
- more likely to EXPERIENCE violence and hate crimes
- Lesbians: increased risk for breast and endometrial cancers, less likely to have had pap smear in past year
- gays: increased risk for STI's and anal cancer, more lkely to have and eating disorder
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homophobia
fear of homosexuals, negative attitudes and actions
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homonegativism
negative actions, beliefs, and judgments
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heterosexism
discrimination in favor of heterosexuals
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prejudice
hostile or negative attitude toward group
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hate crimes
- crime committed against person due to perceived membership in social group
- more than 20 states have either no hate crime laws, or hate crime laws that don't include sexual orientaton
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