The debate over choice and sexual orientation addresses the issue of the degree to which sexual orientation is genetically determined (i.e., unaffected by experiences or conscious choices); and also whether orientation can be affected by choices made by adults (or adolescents). The issue is an extremely controversial and significant one, for social, political and religious reasons. Genetic determinism is the idea that an individuals genes determine to a large degree all aspects of their behaviour. ... Culture (from the Latin cultura stemming from colere, meaning to cultivate), generally refers to patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activity significance. ... Politics is the process by which groups make decisions. ... Various Religious symbols, including (first row) Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Bahai, (second row) Islam, tribal, Taoist, Shinto (third row) Buddhism, Sikh, Hindu, Jain Religion is the adherence to codified beliefs and rituals which generally involve a faith in a spiritual nature as well as a study of inherited ancestral traditions...

Ethically (or morally), if it is a matter of choice - that is, if a person can choose whether or not to be gay (either because there are no orientations or because orientations can reliably be changed through psychotherapy or some other method) - then those who consider homosexuality to be harmful would see this as evidence that acting on homosexual urges is immoral.^{[citation needed]} If, on the other hand, sexual orientation proves to be a genetic or biological trait that generally cannot be changed, many people will see this as evidence supporting the opposing view that homosexuals should not be criticized for being what they were born to be, and that their sexuality and inclination is part of their essential being and should be respected. For those who do not see homosexuality as harmful, the question of whether or not it is the result of a conscious choice is irrelevant. // Psychotherapy is a range of techniques based on dialogue, communication and behavior change and which are designed to improve the mental health of a client or patient, or to improve group relationships (such as in a family). ...

Background

Historically, in classical (Greek/Roman) times, a variety of sexual orientations were part of society. Largely due to religious influences, same-sex relationships were viewed very negatively in the West until relatively recently. In many parts of the world, homosexuality is still viewed in a negative light. Verses in the Judaic, Christian and Islamic Holy Books are often taken as clear statements that God does not condone homosexual activity in humans. Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, which begins roughly with the earliest-recorded Greek poetry of Homer (7th century BC), and continues through the rise of Christianity and the fall of the Western Roman Empire (5th century AD... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... Judaism is the religion of the Jewish people. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Islamic holy books are the books the Quran records as dictated by Allah to prophets; they are the Tawrat (Torah), the Zabur (commonly the Psalms), the Injil (commonly the Gospel), and the Quran. ...

In this context, there is a strong impetus to examine why and how people develop sexual orientation, and the issue has strong political overtones.

In either case, it is probable that many people do not have any strong views on the issue, since the homosexuals who care about the debate, as well as those religious people and others who have a strong motive to argue it, are both in the minority. However, it is still a question which attracts much interest from genetic and psychological perspectives, separate from its political and social dimension.

Views

Biological influence hypothesis

Empirical studies that attempt to quantify biological influence on sexual orientation^[1] are discussed in Biology and sexual orientation. Empirical research is any activity that uses direct or indirect observation as its test of reality. ... Biology and sexual orientation is the concept in industrialized societies that there is, at least in part, a biological basis for sexual orientation. ...

The role of choice

Almost everyone agrees that the decision 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 disagreement is whether one chooses their orientation or not.

If sexual orientation is (completely or almost completely) a conscious choice, then social and cultural influences may play a role. This hypothesis predicts that in societies where (for example) homosexuality is widely discussed or accepted, more people will report themselves to be homosexual.

Orientation as a conscious choice

A small number of gay, lesbian, and bisexual people believe they have - more or less consciously - 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). These people feel that all human beings have a potential for heterosexual as well as homosexual feelings and that it is a matter of individual choice whether to open oneself to this potential or not. They stress the fluidity of sexuality. However, the strong argument here is that these people are bisexuals who conciously supress to act out on their homosexual attractions. Doing so has been documented to bring about psychological issues. 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ...

Most choice advocates have a negative view of all non-heterosexual orientations. Therefore, they might, for instance, consider homosexuality to be a personal problem not unlike a drug or alcohol addiction. Heterosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by esthetic attraction, romantic love or sexual desire exclusively for members of the opposite sex or gender, contrasted with homosexuality and distinguished from bisexuality and asexuality. ...

Opponents of the choice hypothesis believe that sexual orientation is not a choice that is made casually or can be changed at all and cannot at all be compared to an addiction to innate substances.

Orientation as innate or unconsciously developed

Today, most mental health experts agree that sexual orientation is not chosen. Numerous surveys and considerable anecdotal evidence shows that the gender(s) toward which most people have had spontaneous attraction to (whether heterosexual, homosexual, both, or otherwise) have not changed since the feelings began in adolescence or beforehand.

Current scientific view

Though science currently has no definitive answer to the question, evidence seems to suggest that sexual orientation is the result of a combination of environmental, emotional, hormonal, and biological factors. In other words, there are many factors that contribute to a person's sexual orientation, and the factors may be different for different people.

However, homosexuality and bisexuality are not caused by the way a child was reared by his or her parents, or by having a sexual experience with someone of the same sex when the person was young. Also, being homosexual or bisexual does not mean the person is mentally ill or abnormal in some way, although there may be social problems that result from prejudicial attitudes or misinformation. ^[2]

Homosexuality is ubiquitous in nature and appears to arise naturally in thousands of species which are not subject to the same psychological and environmental pressures as humans.^[3]

The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-III and DSM-IV) of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) based upon many decades' years research, declassified homosexuality as a clinical condition and deleted it from their books. The research that listed it as a clinical condition in the first place was biased by only studying those individuals who were already in therapy in the first place. After years of unbiased research was conducted, the notion that homosexuality was a "clinical condition" was quickly found to be untrue. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association, is the handbook used most often in diagnosing mental disorders in the United States and other countries. ... The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association, is the handbook used most often in diagnosing mental disorders in the United States and other countries. ... The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, published by the American Psychiatric Association, is the handbook used most often in diagnosing mental disorders in the United States and other countries. ... The American Psychiatric Association is a professional organization of psychiatrists whose members are American and international physicians who are trained in psychiatry. ...

Other aspects of the debate

Changing sexual orientation through therapy

There is a small ex-gay movement which claims that homosexuals can become heterosexual or otherwise "leave homosexuality behind" through counseling, prayer, aversion, or other therapies, if they choose to do so. However, most contemporary mental health professionals consider "reparative therapy" - therapy which attempts to actually change a patient's sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual - to be unethical and psychologically harmful. The term itself is controversial, as it implies that homosexuality is something which needs to be repaired. The ex-gay or exodus movement claims that homosexuals can become heterosexual or otherwise leave homosexuality behind through counselling, prayer, and other therapies if they choose to do so. ... Mary Magdalene in prayer. ... Aversion therapy is a form of psychiatric treatment in which the patient is exposed to a stimulus while simultaneously being subjected to some form of discomfort. ... Reparative therapy (also known as conversion, reorientation or differentiation therapy), is any of several techniques that are aimed at changing the sexual orientation of a person with same gender attractions to heterosexuality. ... Since its coinage, the word homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings. ... Heterosexuality is a sexual orientation characterized by esthetic attraction, romantic love or sexual desire exclusively for members of the opposite sex or gender, contrasted with homosexuality and distinguished from bisexuality and asexuality. ...

See Homosexuality and psychology. Homosexuality and psychology have a closely intertwined history. ...

Sexuality in non-human species

Main article: Animal sexuality

Some people consider it instructive or suggestive to look at how sexual behavior operates in other species in nature. The study of animal sexuality is a rapidly developing field, and current findings can be summarized briefly as follows: Animal sexual behavior takes many different forms, even within the same species. ...

Today it is understood that many species of animals try to give and get sexual stimulation with others where procreation is not the aim. Same sex parenting and/or sex has now been observed in over 1,500 species.

Moral and religious considerations

Religious authorities which regard 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 considered to be an acceptable or sometimes even admirable alternative to homosexuality. (e.g., in 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. (e.g., The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) However, opponents say that sex is a human need that must eventually be fufiled much like food, water and shelter and that celibacy for a long extended amount of time can eventually lead to some form of psychological trauma. Celibacy refers either to being unmarried or to sexual abstinence. ... The Roman Catholic Church or Catholic Church (see terminology below) is the Christian Church in full communion with the Bishop of Rome, currently Pope Benedict XVI. It traces its origins and sees itself as the same Church founded by Jesus and maintained through Apostolic Succession from the Twelve Apostles. ... The afterlife (or life after death) is a generic term referring to a continuation of existence, typically spiritual, experiential, or ghost-like, beyond this world, or after death. ... The Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the largest attraction in the citys Temple Square. ...

Not all religious sects regard non-heterosexual orientations as wrong, nor do all adherents of organized churches that do hold that view. Some denominations provide specific, nonjudgmental outreach, support and even advocacy for homosexual, bisexual and transgender populations, such as the Metropolitan Community Church and Unitarian Universalism. See religion and homosexuality for a more complete discussion. Logo of the Metropolitan Community Churches The Metropolitan Community Church (in full, The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches or UFMCC, or more commonly MCC) is an international fellowship of Christian congregations. ... The flaming chalice is the universally recognized symbol for Unitarian Universalism. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

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 orientation is a matter of choice or not. Opponents usually argue that such a comparison is flawed as pedophilia and incest is generally without consent ( indeed children cannot legally consent to sex in many countries ) as opposed to homosexual sex between two consenting adults. Pedophilia, paedophilia or pædophilia (see spelling differences) is the paraphilia of being sexually attracted primarily or exclusively to prepubescent or peripubescent children. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... Pedophilia, paedophilia or pædophilia (see spelling differences) is the paraphilia of being sexually attracted primarily or exclusively to prepubescent or peripubescent children. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... Since its coinage, the word homosexuality has acquired multiple meanings. ... Look up Sex in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

For the purposes of sexual behavior, some people may choose to be celibate or sexually active, and self-identification (consistent with their values) is a psychological and social phenomenon distinct from sexual behavior and attraction. Sexual behavior is a form of physical intimacy that may be directed to reproduction (one possible goal of sexual intercourse) and/or to the enjoyment of activity involving sexual gratification. ...

External links

• [2] Change is possible - testimonies from ex-gays.
• 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
• Will A Gay Gene Get Us Anywhere? and Catching the Phoenix by Nick Yee
• QueerByChoice.com
• Choice in Sexual Orientation: The Sword That Cuts Both Ways
• Scientific articles Articles by Daryl J. Bern about his Exotic Becomes Erotic developmental theory of sexual orientation

See also

• Determinism
• Free will
• Genetics
• Homosexuality and religion
• Human sexuality
• Psychology
• Societal attitudes towards homosexuality

Determinism is the philosophical proposition that every event, including human cognition and action, is causally determined by an unbroken chain of prior occurrences. ... Free will is the philosophical doctrine that holds that our choices are ultimately up to ourselves. ... Genetics (from the Greek genno γεννώ= give birth) is the science of genes, heredity, and the variation of organisms. ... The relationship between homosexuality and religion varies greatly across time and place, within and between different religions and sects, and regarding different forms of homosexuality and bisexuality. ... This article is about the issues and phenomena pertaining to human sexual function and behavior. ... Psychology is an academic and applied field involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. ... Societal attitudes towards homosexuality vary greatly in different cultures and different historical periods, as do attitudes toward sexual desire, activity and relationships in general. ...

References

1. ^ An increasing number of studies have investigated this link, but no scientific consensus exists as to the specific biological factors that may play a role
2. ^ Sexual Orientation: Homosexuality and Bisexuality, WebMd.com
3. ^ [1] James Own, National Geographic News, "Homosexual Activity Among Animals Stirs Debate." July 23, 2004. Retrieved August 5, 2006.