Homosexuality: Theories of Etiology
Theories concerning the etiology of male homosexuality
Psychoanalytic Views (from Diamant & McAnulty, 1995)
A second variation of Freudian thought was that men try to preserve the maternal relationship by identifying with their mothers, and choosing love objects that resemble themselves or their idealized selves. These men identify with both their mother and the love object, and are effeminate and maternal.
The third variation of Freud’s thought emphasizes the boy’s desire to be the libidinal object of his father, rather than an Oedipal desire for his mother. Some boys become fixated at this stage, and consequently desire those partners who resemble the father.
A fourth Freudian variation sees homosexuality as springing from a boy’s not wanting to give in to the competition he has for his mother’s love. A reaction formation occurs, and instead of seeing other men as hated rivals, he sees them as erotic objects.
More psychoanalytic views
Modern psychoanalytic thought
Biogenic views
Pillard and others
Pillard et al. (1981, 1982) discovered that when male probands reported other gay and lesbian relatives, they usually came from the maternal side of the family. This seemingly lends support to the idea that homosexuality is heritable, and may be connected to a region on the X chromosome (Pattatucci, 1998).
Genetic?
Hormonal views
Hormones in humans?
Males (genetic XY) who are unable to utilize testosterone normally are feminized, as are male babies whose mothers were subject to high dosages of estrogen while pregnant.
More hormonal effects
This research is supported by the earlier conclusions of Meyer & Bahlburg (1993) who proposed that high concentrations of androgenic hormones are required during the period of sexual differentiation of the brain to masculinize the neural substrate relevant to sexual orientation and neurocognitive function.
Physiological views
LeVay’s research
More physiology?
Other ideas
Critique of research
PPT Slide
Email: pyoung@houghton.edu
Other information: Copyright 1998 Bethany McIntyre. May be viewed freely, but may not be copied without permission.
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