Neurohormonal functioning and sexual orientation: A theory of homosexuality-heterosexuality.

Abstract

Following a historical sketch of attempts to explain homosexuality, we review evidence indicating that the process of determining human sexual orientation is fundamentally the same in all mammals. In this process, four phenotypic dimensions of sexuality develop from two more or less distinct sex genotypes. Studies are reviewed that indicate how phenotypic deviations from these two genotypes (called sexual inversions) can occur. The causes of sexual inversions are categorized as genetic-hor-monal, pharmacological, maternal stress, immunological, and social experiential. From this evi-dence, we propose a theory of how the entire spectrum of human sexual orientation (vs. simply homosexuality) is determined. A consistent preference for sexual relations with one's own sex (homosexuality), the opposite sex (heterosexuality), or vary-ing degrees of ambivalence about the partner's sex (bisexuality) may be called sexual orientation. Homosexuality should not be confused with occasional homosexual experiences. Homosex-ual experiences are fairly common, especially early in adoles-

Cited by (7)

1. Effects of gender and sexual orientation on evolutionarily relevant aspects of human mating psychology.
   Bailey, J. Michael, Gaulin, Steven, Agyei, Yvonne, Gladue, Brian A. · 1994 · Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
2. Sexual orientation in women with classical or non-classical congenital adrenal hyperplasia as a function of degree of prenatal androgen excess
   Meyer-Bahlburg, Heino F. L., Dolezal, Curtis, Baker, Susan W., New, Maria I. · 2008 · Archives of Sexual Behavior
3. Biological versus nonbiological older brothers and men’s sexual orientation
   Bogaert, Anthony F. · 2006 · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
4. Sex, sexual orientation, and identification of positive and negative facial affect
   Rahman, Qazi, Wilson, Glenn D., Abrahams, Sharon · 2004 · Brain and Cognition
5. Preference for Human Body Odors Is Influenced by Gender and Sexual Orientation
   Martins, Yolanda, Preti, George, Crabtree, Christina R., Runyan, Tamar, Vainius, Aldona A., Wysocki, Charles J. · 2005 · Psychological Science

See all 305