Choice and sexual orientation
From Freepedia
A small minority of psychologists, primarily a collection of conservative Christians and Muslims (and in the larger cultural and political debate) view sexual orientation as a choice and something that can be changed or chosen in adolescence or adulthood. In this case, the primary aspect of sexual orientation which is of interest is whether attractions are for members of the same, opposite, or both genders. (For discussion about whether or not there are exactly two genders and what constitutes gender, see the article on sex.) Obviously, for the purposes of sexual behavior, any person may choose to be celibate or sexually active, and self-identification is a psychological and social phenomenon distinct from sexual behavior and attraction.
Empirical studies which attempt to quantify biological influence on sexual orientation are discussed in Biology and sexual orientation. Non-voluntary environmental/cultural factors may, of course, also contribute to sexual orientation.
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Choice hypothesis
If sexual orientation is (completely or almost completely) a conscious choice, then social and culture influences no doubt play a large role, as they do in "lifestyle" choices like what foods to eat or how to throw a birthday party. This hypothesis predicts that in societies where (for example) homosexuality is widely discussed or accepted as "normal", more people will adopt a homosexual lifestyle. For those who believe homosexuality is immoral, this theory provokes concern that positive portrayals of homosexuality will harm children by influencing them in that direction.
Some advocates of the choice hypothesis believe that sexual orientation is not a choice which is necessarily made casually or easily changed. Most choice advocates also have a negative view of non-heterosexual orientations. So they might, for instance, consider homosexuality to be a personal problem not unlike a drug or alcohol addiction (including the addictive aspects). A person might not be able to change without help, but in the end, their own choices and behaviors are an integral part of their problem.
Not all people who believe that homosexual behavior is wrong believe that (for example) a homosexual orientation is a choice. (If something is not a choice, then it usually cannot be right or wrong, it just exists). This often leads to the conclusion that people who are non-heterosexuals should be treated with respect or compassion, but that they should be discouraged from acting on their immoral spontaneous erotic desires.
It is an important point to realize that almost everyone agrees that whether to engage in a particular sexual behavior (whether driven by a spontaneous erotic desire, external suggestion, or any other influence) is in normal circumstances a conscious choice. The main disagreements are over whether a.) there is an underlying orientation which controls emotional desires and responses to events, and whether and b.) acting on same-sex or other sexual attractions is moral, immoral, or orthogonal to moral considerations.
Most gay, lesbian, and bisexual people, and many straight people, believe that sexual orientation is not a choice. Many surveys and plentiful anecdotal evidence seem to show that the gender(s) toward which most people have had spontaneous erotic desires (whether heterosexual, homosexual, both, or otherwise) has not changed since the feelings began in adolescence.
However, it must be noted that these surveys by their very nature may include an element of bias in their demographics (ie; only gay people can comment on their experiences in becoming homosexual and so on).
Also, some gay, lesbian, and bisexual people do believe they've chosen their sexual orientations, as shown by books such as Vera Whisman's Queer by Choice: Lesbians, Gay Men, and the Politics of Identity (1996) and websites such as QueerByChoice.com. In the 1970s, the view that homosexuality can be chosen even became a fundamental precept of the lesbian feminist movement.
Changing sexual orientation through therapy
Most contemporary mental health professionals consider reparative therapy - trying to actually change a patient's sexual orientation from, say, homosexual to heterosexual, through therapeutic means - to be ineffective, if not psychologically harmful.
However, there is also a modern ex-gay movement that claims that homosexuals can become heterosexual or otherwise "leave homosexuality behind" through counseling, prayer, aversion, or other therapies if they choose to do so.
See Homosexuality and psychology.
Moral and religious considerations
Religious authorities regarding homosexuality as wrong or "sinful" often distinguish between immoral sexual acts and non-heterosexual feelings. Adherents to these codes of conduct are often advised to abstain from sexual acts in general, or to attempt to foster opposite-sex relationships; celibacy is an acceptable or sometimes even admirable alternative to heterosexuality. (For example, the Roman Catholic Church.) Some religions hold heterosexual marriage to be morally superior to celibacy, or mandatory for entry into a desirable form of the afterlife. (For example, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.)
Not all religious sects regard non-heterosexual orientations as wrong, nor do all adherents of organized churches that do hold that view. See religion and homosexuality for a more complete discussion.
Proponents of the "choice about behavior" position point to taboo or illegal sexual acts, such as pedophilia or incest where society requires individuals not to act out their desires, as examples where choices are expected to be made whether or not orientation is a matter of choice.
See also Societal attitudes towards homosexuality.
External links
- Is homosexuality a choice? -- Paper on Dr Paul Kenyon's Home Page, University of Plymouth, Department of Psychology
- Position paper - Catherine L. Harris, PhD., Psychology Department, Boston University
- Review of Queer By Choice - Julia Jones, Bay Area News and Letters Committees
- Will A Gay Gene Get Us Anywhere? by Nicholas Yee
- QueerByChoice.com
