The very definition of sexual orientation emphasizes on attraction. According to Hill and Dawood (2012), because attraction captures the essence of sexual orientation (i.e., having a particular direction), and is perhaps less likely than behaviour or identity to be influenced by cultural and societal norms, many early researchers focus on the biological basis of sexual orientation. This idea is strongly linked to essentialism- believing that some phenomena are innate, central to one’s identity, universal, and most importantly, biologically determined. I will specifically focus on how genetic approach, hormones and brain neuroanatomical research, and evolutionary psychology explain homosexuality. A series studies on genetic field have shown
…show more content…
People question why homosexuality persists even if it does not offer reproductive values, which is a critical feature in natural selection. Evolutionary theorists explain this by the idea of “inclusive fitness”: the reproductive success of oneself and one’s close relatives (DeLamater&Hyde, 1998). Homosexual men and women contribute to their siblings’ and other close relatives’ successful reproduction by providing necessary support and resources as a way of passing some of their genes down, including same-sex sexual orientation. Consequently, the “gay gene” is maintained and passed down from kin selection. Evolutionary biology strongly suggests that some people have predisposed gay genes from past …show more content…
LeVay (1991) believed that origin of homosexuality rooted deeply in brain structure. He studied the neuroanatomical differences of the anterior hypothalamus among heterosexual men, women and homosexual men. Volume of INAH3 is larger in heterosexual men than in heterosexual women and gay men. Furthermore, it is also similar between homosexual men and heterosexual women. Although his hypothesis is criticized by many later researchers on inconclusive samples, it sheds more lights on biological implications of
People question why homosexuality persists even if it does not offer reproductive values, which is a critical feature in natural selection. Evolutionary theorists explain this by the idea of “inclusive fitness”: the reproductive success of oneself and one’s close relatives (DeLamater&Hyde, 1998). Homosexual men and women contribute to their siblings’ and other close relatives’ successful reproduction by providing necessary support and resources as a way of passing some of their genes down, including same-sex sexual orientation. Consequently, the “gay gene” is maintained and passed down from kin selection. Evolutionary biology strongly suggests that some people have predisposed gay genes from past …show more content…
LeVay (1991) believed that origin of homosexuality rooted deeply in brain structure. He studied the neuroanatomical differences of the anterior hypothalamus among heterosexual men, women and homosexual men. Volume of INAH3 is larger in heterosexual men than in heterosexual women and gay men. Furthermore, it is also similar between homosexual men and heterosexual women. Although his hypothesis is criticized by many later researchers on inconclusive samples, it sheds more lights on biological implications of