Is sexual behavior learned or genetic?

[Arkitech]

Just curious what the ATOT crowd thinks about this one.

My wife and I were talking about an aquaintance who recently started a relationship with another woman. She was previously married twice and in several other relationships with men, so it was kind of suprising to see her in a romantic relationship with a woman. Anyway the wife and I got into this discussion about whether sexual behavior or tendencies is something that is picked up in life or if it's a genetic predisposition. I think it depends on the person, I beleive some people have always had a specific leaning while others may develop certain traits through observation or some other influence.


What's your thoughts?

Edit: screwed up the poll, if I changed it now would alter the answers. Use the new poll

 

[Bignate603]

Asking if it's learned or if it's inherited is not a yes or no question.

 

[Xylitol]

your poll makes no sense

Is sexual behaviou something that is learned or is it a genetic predispostion?

yes/no/both/not sure

 

[CatchPhrase]

99.9% genes.
Rod goes into the hole- so what is there to learn?
lol@thepoll

 

[olds]

Pics of chicks with dicks?

 

[imported_Lothar]

Your poll makes no sense.

 

[Eli]

It's far too complicated to say it's black and white like that.

 

[overst33r]

Theres the basic attraction to the opposite sex which is genetic, but the way we interact is a cultural thing. How guys communicate to girl and vice versa is picked up through culture imo.

 

[redgtxdi]

Originally posted by: mariok2006
Theres the basic attraction to the opposite sex which is genetic, but the way we interact is a cultural thing. How guys communicate to girl and vice versa is picked up through culture imo.

But what about the "hot beef injection" part???


:laugh:

 

[Baked]

A better question would be, is molesting catholic boys learned or genetic.

 

[Regs]

It started with rape and ended with the womens right movement.

 

[alfa147x]

yes

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: Xylitol
your poll makes no sense

Is sexual behaviou something that is learned or is it a genetic predispostion?

yes/no/both/not sure

doeth


too much vodka

edit on the way

 

[sandorski]

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: Xylitol
your poll makes no sense

Is sexual behaviou something that is learned or is it a genetic predispostion?

yes/no/both/not sure

doeth


too much vodka

edit on the way

Is Drinking Learned or Genetic?

[ ] Yes
[ ] No
[ ] Both
[ ] Not sure
[ ] 2

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: sandorski

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: Xylitol
your poll makes no sense

Is sexual behaviou something that is learned or is it a genetic predispostion?

yes/no/both/not sure

doeth


too much vodka

edit on the way

Is Drinking Learned or Genetic?

[ ] Yes
[ ] No
[ ] Both
[ ] Not sure
[ ] 2

all of the above, followed by a chaser

:beer:

 

[SlitheryDee]

I think it's genetic in most cases. The genetic cases I consider to be the "real" homosexuals. The remaining .01% are just twisted individuals. Unfortunately it's the existence of that small number of people who are "faking" homosexuality through mental imbalance that make people question the nature of all homosexuality or give them cases to point out for their side of the good ol' "nature vs. nurture" debate.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
I think it's genetic in most cases. The genetic cases I consider to be the "real" homosexuals. The remaining .01% are just twisted individuals. Unfortunately it's the existence of that small number of people who are "faking" homosexuality through mental imbalance that make people question the nature of all homosexuality or give them cases to point out for their side of the good ol' "nature vs. nurture" debate.

.01% is waaaaay off the mark, its probably more like half and half if that much (genetics). If a person is truly genetically disposed with an attraction to the same sex then chances are dealing with the opposite sex would be completely unappealing. However there tons of people (learned) who maintain a facade of living as a hetero while doing double duty as a gay person. While I'm sure some gay people (genetic) can stomach sleeping with the opposite sex for the sake of appearances I don't think it's a widespread thing. Of course this is just conjecture, I don't have any statistical data to support this. But conversations I've had with numerous people over the years tend to make me believe this.

 

[nageov3t]

I have a hard time believing it's not somehow genetic.

my mom had an identical twin. both my mom and my aunt had two kids. both my mom and my aunt ended up with one gay kid each, despite the fact that we (my cousin and I) grew up on opposite coasts and in completely different environments (my parents were Oregonian hippies. they smoked pot, my baby sitter was a buddhist, and the first school I ever went to was called the Sunshine School... my cousin grew up in your typical cold/formal NE WASP household). I knew I was gay long before I ever met my cousin, and I'd imagine she was the same.

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: Arkitech
.01% is waaaaay off the mark, its probably more like half and half if that much (genetics). If a person is truly genetically disposed with an attraction to the same sex then chances are dealing with the opposite sex would be completely unappealing. However there tons of people (learned) who maintain a facade of living as a hetero while doing double duty as a gay person. While I'm sure some gay people (genetic) can stomach sleeping with the opposite sex for the sake of appearances I don't think it's a widespread thing. Of course this is just conjecture, I don't have any statistical data to support this. But conversations I've had with numerous people over the years tend to make me believe this.

You may be right about the percentage of genetic vs. psychological homosexuals, but my number was based off of nothing but intuition and conversations with gay people I know too. the way I see it the social pressures regarding sex aren't nearly the same for gays as they are for heterosexuals, and that is one reason a greater number of genetic gays may be able to "stomach" acting counter to their natural inclinations than heterosexuals.

What I mean is that at least part of an average heterosexual's revulsion at the thought of sex with the same gender is rooted in learned awareness of what is acceptable sexual behavior which is, in turn, based on cultural standards. Having already overcome the initial gender-role conditioning imposed on them by society and lacking any meaningful pressures in the opposite direction, a gay person might be more able to maintain a relation with someone of the opposite sex "for appearances sake". Likewise, a heterosexual without any cultural conditioning would probably be more able to stomach a relationship with someone of the same sex if put into a situation that, for some reason, required it.

 

[Arkitech]

Had a really interesting conversation with a pre-school teacher about a similar subject last week. Basically she was telling me there was a 3 year old girl in her class who displayed sexually aggresive tendencies (grabbing crotches and bottoms) towards other little girls in the class. So basically she sat the girl down and tried to get a feel for what was going on at home, turns out her dad watches porn on his computer while the little girl was present. (the dad should be locked up for that kind of negligence) Apparently after seeing this the little girl started acting out what she saw. So I wonder how often this kind of thing happens, where kids at an early age observe something and it shapes their future sexual behavior. I noticed a similar pattern listening to Howard Stern, he has porn stars on his show every so often and he tends to ask about their childhood. It's really amazing how many of them cite some incident or event in their early years which led them to the path they are presently on.

 

[Kadarin]

It depends on the sexual behavior. I can't possibly imagine that the desire to get tied up, bent over, and fucked with a strap-on dildo by some hot woman in full dominatrix regalia is inherently instinctive.

 

[Bill Brasky]

The genes and the proper environment must both be present if it's for real.

 

[shortylickens]

OK, obviously I dont get this thread.
When it said "sexual behavior" I thought about all the kinky experimenting I did when I was 19.

My vote was for "learned" because I'm pretty sure my DNA was not telling me to tongue that chicks asshole.

Now I see we're just having the homosexual debate again.

 

[judasmachine]

I think it's a little of both. There may be a genetic predisposition, but it's still up to the person to decide to act on it.

In your friend's case it sounds like she is just fed up and is looking for something satisfying in different way.

In no way are my ideas scientific, they are just based on my experience with both heterosexuals, homosexuals, and bisexuals. To date I've 'dated' two lesbians, and one bi girl, and I have had a lot of friends of various sexualities.

 

[moshquerade]

it can be learned to the point of learning new ways to be sexually aroused/satisfied, but you are born either hetero or homosexual (and throw asexual and bisexual in there too).
anyone can "pretend" to be any sexual orientation, but what they really feel is something they are born with.