Is sexuality dictated at birth, by genetics, or life experiences?

Question

I am just interested, please cite sources where apparent.

Thank you.

Answer 1

I think it is a mix of all that you mentioned. Most scientists agree that there are no absolute causes for our behaviours, it is always a mix of things.

Answer 2

I am sure it is all 3, though to what extent I will not try to guess... While some things are just one or another, the subtle stuff is multifactorial, and interaction of genes w/ environment is a hot area of study.

I recall reading of some research suggesting a strong role for the level of cortisol [a hormone associated with stress] in the mother's bloodstream while pregnant.

As far as genetics, keep in mind Sickle Cell Anemia [mostly affects blacks]; if you have a double dose of the sickle gene you die young, but having one copy protects against malaria. Gene is most common in parts of Africa where malaria is endemic.
My point being that there are genes that can seem to be bad at first glance that turn out to have a beneficial effect [on the whole, statistically, not for any one individual] else they would be edited out of the population.
Tay-Sachs disease [Ashkenazi jews] similarly protects against typhus.
Some forms of juvenile onset diabetes are genetic, and seemed to be present in the population at too high a level than theory allowed [mutation rate, removal by nat selection], but it turns out that, under starvation conditions, a diabetic can survive on half the calories. Since our ancestors spent much more time dying of starvation than eating candy, not too surprising the gene is more common than initially expected.

Answer 3

Scientific researchers who specialize in human sexuality have shown that homosexuality is linked to biology and genetics.

An October 2004 scientific research publication stated that scientists have found that women tend to have more children when they inherit the same genetic factors linked to homosexuality in men & that this fertility boost more than compensates for the lack of offspring fathered by gay men and keeps the “gay” genetic factors in circulation; a 2005 study reported genetic scans showing a clustering of the same genetic pattern among gay men on three chromosomes; a study published in Human Genetics in February 2006 found extreme differences in X chromosome inactivation in mothers of gay sons and mothers whose sons were not gay; and another 2006 scientific study found that a man's likelihood of being gay rises with the number of older biological brothers even if gay men were raised away from their biological families.

Answer 4

I don't know how many times we have answered this question maybe we should have some sort of data base of frequently answered questions.
Actually the answer is basic sexuality is genetic but it can of course be influenced by environment and life experience

Answer 5

I think that the Guinness Family should take some of the blame! I had one pint a day,and was quite active(sexually).i have now greatly improved,which just shows what Toucan Do!

Answer 6

There is probably a mix between psychology and biology since human sexuality is very complex.

The fact that bisexuals experience variations in their attraction would suggest there in an ongoing process and unless its complicated biology - its psychology.

Answer 7

I don't really know. I don't think anyone can tell. I personally believe that it could be a mix of all three. For me, It would definitely be life experiences.

Answer 8

It is a combination of the above. In some individuals, some of these factors play a more important part.

Answer 9

Not by genetics, genetics give you you're appearance, but certainly by life experiences I would say.


I know, personally,
If I was not a teenage heavy drinker, I would be straight.

Answer 10

I think its a mix of the three