What are the causes of heterosexuality?

Question

Do you think it is genetic? I personally am bisexual, which most social researchers say is, in some degree or another, the norm. I'm interested in finding out people's views on what is causing the aberrant of heterosexuality. Homosexuality I see as a higher development of sexuality, as they are able to control their urges and not breed mongrels by the ton, like the heterosexuals do; I'm not so highly developed myself, but at least I'm in the "norm" of bisexuality.

This leaves us with the problem of heterosexuality. What are your theories on what causes this condition? Do you think that genetic treatment will one day be available? Do cultural facors come into play?

Lets hear your thoughts!

This "swings both ways" question has been brought to you courtesy of Jack

Answer 1

LOL

I have often wondered about this myself. As a hetero mongrel breeding man I have spent much time in self-refelection of my sexual paradigm. I believe my sexual preference comes from three sources:

Short answer

1. Social-conditioning/it was taught to me.
2. Personal choice, even though I have a strong sex drive, it's still my decision where I put my d*ck.
3. Genetic predisposition/built in desire. I guess I've always just been a chick lovin' dude.

I think all three had a hand in my sexual preference, but all three are not necessarily equal.

I'm sure they'll find a cure for me one of these days, until then, I guess I'll just have to keep breedin' them thar mongrels.

Answer 2

I've never quite thought of my sexuality as a condition but I can understand where you are coming from. I am a heterosexual, I have never been attracted sexually to anyone in my own gender and I consider that normal for me. Other sexualities, I consider normal for whichever individual carries them. I believe the base for all sexuality is genetic and therefore we are what we are. I can control my urges quite well, and I'm not contributing to the gene pool; mother nature has seen fit to make it so I can't. If I were able to, I would not have had a slew of children because I'm a rational human being and understand issues like population control. All forms of sexuality have always been around so long as human beings have and all are needed to keep the human race balanced. I don't look down on any.

Answer 3

A special "thank you" to Ray T. Just to let you know, I gave you a BIG thumbs down. (You can block me whenever you like).
I'm heterosexual but couldn't care less what somebody's sexual preference/s is/are.
You asked if cultural factors come into play. I once asked a similar question to a man I knew from Senegal (who was Muslim and had 3 wives back in his village). His name was "Monsieur Barro". According to him, homosexuals did not exist in Africa! I gathered from his big eyed expression that homosexuality must still not be very well accepted amongst tribal African cultures. Obviously, gay African Europeans and Americans do exist. Is this due to their Western culture
and their possibility to express their sexual preference? Are there tons of African men (on the African continent) just dying to come out of their grass huts and tell the world that they're gay ?
How would a trans-sexual be accepted in Africa?
It is "more or less" acknowledged that being heterosexual, bi or gay is genetic. However, I think common sense also tells us that there has to be some cultural influences too.

Good question :-D

Answer 4

Yeah first off I'd like to say that the whole notion of bisexuality being rare in animals is a total crock. All bonobo chimps are bisexual and they are 98% genetically identical to us, so you are so totally spot on in not treating heterosexuality as some kind of default.

Freuds theory as to why heterosexulaty develops was called the Oedipus comlex, which basically means the young boy wants to sleep with his mother and kill his father like Oedipus, he gives up his attachment to his mother due to fear of punishment or castration by his father and from then on his sexuality is characterized by looking for a replacement for his mother coupled with a sexual aversion to men.

Biologically heterosexuality may be caused by a surge of testosterone in utero, which then converts to estradiol, a common estrogen, which would explain why straight men have small androgynous suprachiasmatic nuclei.

sources:
http://songweaver.com/info/bonobos.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenatal_hormones_and_sexual_orientation#Male_homosexuality_as_hyper-masculine
http://en.wikipedia.com/wiki/estradiol

Answer 5

I don't know what causes heterosexuality, but I do know that, although rare, heterosexuality does occur in the rest of the animal kingdom as well; while most animals will, naturally, enjoy copulation with others of either sex, some do show a definite preference for the opposite.

This does provide further evidence against the outdated theories ascribing heterosexuality to human phenomena such as abuse or mental illness, and makes the argument that such a preference is "unnatural" or "aberrant" completely ridiculous.

Of course, animals which mate for life may do so with members of either sex, but that doesn't make them monosexual, just monogamous.

Perhaps we'll never know why. Ah well, more for you and me:)

Answer 6

Finally!

I've always believed that "heterosexuality" is a social-political construct. Then again, maybe it's not a choice and they're just born that way. Perhaps some combination of genetics and hormones in utero gone awry? Any unbiased (i.e., queer) geneticists out there?

A good follow-up question might be how do we ensure that heterosexuals to develop their reason and act "as if" until they do?

Answer 7

I think this is the best question that I have read since joining....and i love the whole higher development of sexuality. Good stuff.
as to your question: i think that people's up bringing CAN play a part of it, some its just a choice others its just their "norm" I personally thinks its just who you are. People are always trying to find out why people are this or that, what for? just be who you are and love those around you. Thats all that matters anyways right?

Answer 8

We are all sexual beings. By extension, each of us has a sexual orientation: an enduring attraction — be it sexual, romantic, emotional or affectional — to another person. Sexual orientation, however, varies from one individual to the next and exists on a continuum that ranges from exclusive homosexuality to exclusive heterosexuality. Between these two poles, there exist various forms of bisexuality.

It?s unclear why some people are attracted to people of the same sex — also referred to as having "same-sex feelings" or a "same-sex orientation". It's thought sexual orientation is likely the result of complex interactions of a number of factors — cognitive, environmental, and biological.

Sexual orientation is different from sexual behavior: sexual orientation refers to feelings and to self-concept. People may — or may not — express their sexual orientation in their behaviors.

So, these interactions of cognitive, environmental, and biological factors mean that sexual orientation is shaped at an early age?
In most people, yes, and their sexual orientation emerges in early adolescence. What's more, there's also considerable evidence to suggest that genetic and hormonal factors play a key role in shaping a person's sexuality.

People do not choose to be either gay,straight or Bi.

The bottom line
The origins of sexual orientation are very complex. There are likely many reasons for a person's sexual orientation. These reasons may be different for different people. Some people who identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual say they have always felt attracted to members of the same sex while others claim they became aware of these feelings during adolescence or early adulthood

Answer 9

Ha ha, you totally got me at first, as I started to answer "There are so many reasons that cause homosexuality..."

This is funny... I suppose, on more serious note, I agree with genetic theory (it is still a theory for some people apparently).

I think it is only natural to breed as much as possible.The life on this planet is build on simple drive to deliver life.

Why, oh why we always go back and compare ourselves to the animals and what is normal and not normal.... Nature gave us intellect and after she did, we were never the same. We no longer have the need to insure survival of our kind on the same level as the wild animal have to. But we still have the urge to do so...

Answer 10

Genetic, the poor souls are born that way. hopefully some day a cure will be found for it. Then this race can go out in a blaze of gay glory. After which the earth can recover and prepare for the next onslaught of a so-called "civilized" race. They will have a book in which one can read, Those were the days when the sons of man found the daughters of apes desirable and had intercourse with them. And from then the heroes of old were born. See Genesis 6:2