Homosexuality - Nature versus Nurture - Research Paper Example

Nature vs. nurture: Homosexuality Abstract The topic of homosexuality is a vast ranging topic, and has developed in thought in terms of psychology over the last few decades. With respect to the nature and nurture concept, this paper has been written as a reflection of how homosexuality is viewed in the world, keeping in mind the concepts mentioned above. This paper views some of the pros and cons of being homosexual, and how the matter is not something that comes into view after a person grows to a certain age. Therefore, this paper is a debate on how homosexuality is determined by the genetic variation of a human being rather than anything else. Keywords: homosexuality, nature, nurture. Nature vs. Nurture: The Concept of Homosexuality Homosexual people find it extremely difficult to have their voices heard in society by others; most of them are taunted, not accepted into society, and are subject to a vast amount of trauma and pain trying to fit in with other people that are born straight. Most people believe that homosexual people are made so during the course of their lifetime, and not born as the way they are. People think that homosexuals suddenly develop feelings for the same sex and thus treat them as untouchables. However, this is a very wrong concept or notion because this is far from the reality. The truth is in understanding the nature concept; this is a concept that looks at how it is a specific gene combination within the body of a human being that makes him the way he is when he is born. It is these genes at the time of birth of a person that decide his sexual orientation rather than anything else. Therefore, people are born queer or gay rather than becoming gay during the course of their lifetime. In keeping with the statements and views made by the American Psychological Association, it has been noted that “Research suggests that the homosexual orientation is in place very early in the life cycle, possibly even before birth. It is found in about ten percent of the population, a figure which is surprisingly constant across cultures, irrespective of the different moral values and standards of a particular culture.” Therefore it is the belief of such associations as well as some independent scientists, that it is the gene make of different factors within the body, linked with the hormone secretions of a particular foetus that determines the final orientation of the baby at the time of its birth (or even before, when it is in the womb). On the other hand, the nurture concept talks about an entirely different aspect of being a homosexual. According to this concept, some people become gay during the course of their lifetime. They change their sexual preferences according to the kind of environment they live in, and according to the kind of surroundings and atmosphere they are subject to. For example, it is very likely for a young boy raised by only women (May it be in foster care, or lesbian parents, or simply having more women family members than male) to start behaving like women around him. By the time the boy is an adolescent or even older, all his preferences and tastes develop according to the likes of the women he has grown up with, and thus he begins to give rise to feelings of being effeminate. Therefore, this is how a person is ‘made’ gay rather than being born gay, all because of the influence of his outer surroundings and external atmosphere. He is nurtured into being the way he is, instead of being born that way. All the factors that contribute to his way of life and lifestyle help in determining his future course of action. In order to counter this argument, however, a study had been conducted between a few numbers of twins and they were kept in separate environments after their birth. It was found after a period of time that their sexual preferences were of the same sex despite being kept away from each other and being kept in normal environments where no kind of inducement towards a particular orientation was made. This helped to determine how the preference of both the siblings was of the same sex, right from the time of birth and even before, rather than being nurtured into it. According to Charles Darwin, the entire case of sexuality is still hidden in the darkness because no scientist has still been able to find out what exactly it is that helps to determine the sexual orientation of a human being; whether or not it is his personal choice, or his gene make up. The debate between the nature and nurture concepts in deciding the sexual orientation of a person is slowly being won over by the nature side of the argument. This is because, it shows a more plausible and scientific explanation for how people are born. On conducting studies and research of the human bodies of gay and lesbian people, it can also be noticed how there is a varied level of hormone secretion in their bodies as compared to other males or females that are straight. All these factors thus, have helped in determining the nature and nurture concept. Even though it is true that people are influenced by the environment they live in, it is not enough to change or modify their internal bodily functions and structures. The environment has a lasting impact on the person’s mind and not on his inner body. Thus, even if he is subject to a vast amount of having the preference of people of the same sex, his mind can be altered or changed because he has not been made that way. Just the same way as people can change their choices, wants or needs on the basis of a little determination and will power, such feelings can also be altered. Thus on the basis of scientific explanations, the nature concept takes the cake in deciding whether or not a person is a homosexual because it is a more permanent and constant concept. References Jones, Michael. (2008) Nature vs. Nurture Debates Over Sexuality. Accessed on 12 April 2011. Retrieved from http://news.change.org/stories/nature-vs-nurture-debates-over-sexuality Read More