Wondering
Dear Doctor,
Your column of June 15 in response to the parents who had just been told their son was gay seemed sensitive and reasonable. I am puzzled by one sentence.
What did you mean by citing "psycho social and environmental factors" as having partial responsibility in the development of homosexuality?
I thought biochemical factors were the prevailing, if not exclusive, cause of homosexuality, according to the opinion of today. To what research were you referring?
I am not critical, just curious.
Curious
Dear Curious,
Thank you for asking this question.
The answer says much about psychology and the state of research in general. First, there are studies of genetic, hormonal, and biochemical determinants for homosexuality.
The studies are impressive, but, in my opinion, they do not answer for every individual. They probably do speak for the preponderance of individuals and situations.
In my own practice I have been seeing children long enough to know there are some who are clearly likely to be homosexual as their lives unfold. Some I have seen have indeed matched early prediction. In keeping with the research their interests were determined early in their lives.
Others surprise me. Though their behavior would have suggested the possibility of being gay, they have become heterosexual. Is this choice? Is this due to environmental factors? Is sexuality, in terms of object choice, more complicated than we think? Quite likely all are so.
The glory of psychology is respect for the N (number) of one. One case is attended to and may not agree with the preponderance of data surveying vast numbers of people. If we lose sight of that person, we have missed the boat.
Therefore, there may be people whose sexual choice is determined by frequent habituated early choices, strong identification with female or male figures during childhood, or other psychodynamic factors.
While I do not think this accounts for most, it may speak for a few. Science is majestic, but it requires an open mind.
Behavioral science demands it.
Tags: biochemical factors, cause of homosexuality, environmental factors, parents, psychology, sexual choice
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