Historical and Scientific Perspectives on Homosexuality

According to Rathus, Nevid, and Fichner-Rathus, (2005) the term queerness denotes turn onual intimacy in members of ones own anatomical sex and applies to both_ _men and women. man masculines ar often referred to as gay males and homo inner females or referred to as lesbians. dwellly males and lesbians arrest existed through discover history. The historical and scientific perspectives on homo internality get down shaped the carriage gay somebodys cover themselves in mixed fashions. These perspectives may in addition be sound to straightaways appreciation of otherwise(a)s in our public of versed diversity.When checking at historical perspectives, organized religion and past societies inner behaviour is addressed. Although past Greek and Roman cultures were frequently involved in homosexual relationships, the Christian religion denounced those sexual associations and make their beliefs and intentions clear that this behavior was not to continue, for example, according to the book of Genesis in the Holy bible, the metropolis of Sodom was destroyed by God as a retaliatement as a punishment for sexual activity with members of the aforesaid(prenominal) sex.The legal governance became inter tallyed with the Christian belief that quirkiness was sinful and would punish inappropriate sex acts as criminal offenses (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2005). Another perspective to account is heritage. Traditionally, in umpteen cultures, in that location are specific roles for the male and the female. When family is the primitive social unit as we find in Latino and Latina Ameri lav culture, anything sedate the designated sex activity roles is not take for grantedable (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2005). Interestingly enough, males can be sexual with other males without being considered gay (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2005).Women cannot be sexual with other women though because that would be a threat to the traditional male au thorization in that culture. Women also need to be virgins when they marry men so any sexual acts before marriage are prohibited. Specific sexual urge roles in numerous cultures around the world lay the foundation for what is compensate and incorrect for males and females in regard to sexual orientation. The scientific perspective of quirkiness is whether homoeroticism is caused by environmental influences or whether gay individuals are innate(p) that way.This question has been pondered byscientists for decades, unless there is strong severalize to support the base that quirk is an natural characteristic. Research done on both very(a) and brotherly twins, supply that there are higher concordance rank of gay monozygotic twins. Rathus, Nevid, and Fichner-Rathus, (2005) report that nearly 52% of identical (MZ) twin pairs were found to be concordant (in agreement) for a gay male sexual orientation, compared with 22% of fraternal (DZ) twins and only 11% of adoptive brothers (p. 312).Also, read has suggested that hormonal influences could be responsible for dissentences in sexual orientation. Rathus, Nevid, and Fichner-Rathus (2005) explain that antepartum sex hormones be responsible for tissues in the brain to think sexually one way, besides for genital development to be the other way. Also, morphologic examinations on the brains of straight person and homosexual males put on provided speculative evidence that a part of the hypothalamus in gay males is smaller than that region of the hypothalamus in heterosexual males.The scientific perspectives arrest helped numerous gay people come to cost with themselves, which has make feeler out easier. Before scientific evidence provided clues that homosexuality could be inborn, many people believe that people involve to be gay. However, the scientific evidence proves that many are actually born gay. hardy people do not choose their sexuality, but rather red-hot according to sexual impulses that are going on within them. Gay individuals now accept themselves more because they are convinced that they did not choose their sexual identity, as oft as it was given to them.Many homosexuals require formed organizations that are involved personalisedly with others in sharing life stories and involved politically in achieving equal rights for gays and gay couples Although I have always been attracted to individual of the opposite sex, which means that I am Heterosexual, by and by instruction about the historical and scientific perspectives of Homosexuality that I was not aware of before, I better understand others who are oriented in ways that differ from mine.I feel as though learning about the history, the scientific research concerning cross-species subjects, and the biology on homosexuality can be beneficial for humanity in order to learn valuation account for differences among sexual orientations. References Rathus, S. A. , Nevid, J. S. , and Fichner-Rathus, L. (2005). kind sexuality in a world of diversity. (6th ed. ) Boston, MA Allyn and Bacon.Historical and scientific Perspectives on HomosexualityHISTORICAL AND SCIENTIFIC PERSPECTIVES PSY/265 Ana Diaz 10/20/1012 Kavita Kostek The way we view homosexuality has very much to do with how we were raised and taught depending on where we are from, our parents beliefs and what others around us tell us. Because of this we believe what we believe and impart stand by them unless we ourselves come to a different conclusion as we grow older. I was raised a Catholic and was taught by the volume teachings that homosexuality was wrong and pull up stakes go to hell if that is what you practiced.In this paper we impart look a little at the historical and scientific perspectives of homosexuality. We will first be starting with the historical view which has much to do with what the bible teaches on homosexuality. When we look back at ancient Greece where homosexuality was real not that big of a deal, older men w ould have relationships with adolescent males right at the conviction when they grew their first beards (online textual matter pg. 28). thus we can go to Rome where there were men that were very distaff and walked around certain parts of town looking for men to bed.In Florence which was a very Christian city had many sodomites (this is a Jewish and Christian word that signifies the connection between sodomy and the city of Sodom in the intelligence which supposedly God destroyed (Genesis 19). I remember watching a movie called Caligula. This movie depicted how free the Romans were with sexual favors and bedding with those of resembling sex was an all-time occurrence especially male with male (online textpg. 287).Sodomy was much(prenominal) a natural thing but it bothered the governors at the time so they created a group called The Office of the Night in 1437 to change its citizens to be able to accuse others anonymously of sodomy (Human Sexuality pg. 287). erstwhile the Rom an Empire ceased to exist, throughout Western Europe Christianity spread and its beliefs were made part of secular laws. Next we can take a look at homosexuals through the cross-species perspective. Biologists have watched the male-male and female female behavior of 450 species in every part of the world (Hird, 2006).Through this study they monitored the behavior of baboons and learned that male baboons may present their rear to other male baboons and allow themselves to be mounted either because the other is dominant or for protection and favors. I think by this study they concluded that human beings are much more like the wolf species than we want to be. We do have animal instincts. We will now look at the psychological views on homosexuality with looking into the psychoanalytic views of Sigmund Freud who is the originator of psychoanalytic theory.He believed that tikeren are all blossom out to all forms of sexual stimulation. He says that once a boy lets go of the incestuous desire for his mother he will link up with his papa and will desire women as he reaches puberty and the same for girls when it comes to how they relate with their mothers. What Freud is saying here is that depending on the relationship between parent and child and how it manifests itself sexually has influence on what the persons personal sexual preference they will have when they mature.People are afraid of coming out and letting others know that they are gay because they are afraid of ridicule, personal injury or being ousted from their families. In the past it was much harder because there was much homophobia around. Now with all the gay activists and groups for support it is much easier. We have to be true to ourselves and if we feel that who we are physically is not who we really feel like then we should have to feel that we have to brood it. I grew up Catholic as I have state and I grew up thinking that sex was between man and char and not man-man or woman and woman.Now a s I am older I know that people are just people but have different likes and that is what. Scientific findings never stirred me one way or another as to my sexual orientation. What did do it was my religious beliefs and level though I have nothing against the LGBT community I still believe that sex should be between man and woman along with marriage but I would never deny anyone else right to live life as they feel is right for them. References Human Sexuality online text .Historical and Scientific Perspectives on HomosexualityAccording to Rathus, Nevid, and Fichner-Rathus, (2005) the term homosexuality denotes sexual interest in members of ones own anatomic sex and applies to both_ _men and women. Homosexual males are often referred to as gay males and homosexual females or referred to as lesbians. Gay males and lesbians have existed throughout history. The historical and scientific perspectives on homosexuality have shaped the way gay individuals perceive themselves in various wa ys. These perspectives may also be beneficial to heterosexuals understanding of others in our world of sexual diversity.When looking at historical perspectives, religion and past societies sexual behavior is addressed. Although past Greek and Roman cultures were frequently involved in homosexual relationships, the Christian religion denounced those sexual associations and made their beliefs and intentions clear that this behavior was not to continue, for example, according to the book of Genesis in the Holy bible, the city of Sodom was destroyed by God as a punishment as a punishment for sexual activity with members of the same sex.The legal system became intertwined with the Christian belief that homosexuality was sinful and would punish inappropriate sex acts as criminal offenses (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2005). Another perspective to consider is heritage. Traditionally, in many cultures, there are specific roles for the male and the female. When family is the primary soci al unit as we find in Latino and Latina American culture, anything but the designated gender roles is not acceptable (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2005). Interestingly enough, males can be sexual with other males without being considered gay (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2005).Women cannot be sexual with other women though because that would be a threat to the traditional male dominance in that culture. Women also need to be virgins when they marry men so any sexual acts before marriage are prohibited. Specific gender roles in many cultures around the world lay the foundation for what is correct and incorrect for males and females in regard to sexual orientation. The scientific perspective of homosexuality is whether homosexuality is caused by environmental influences or whether gay individuals are born that way.This question has been pondered byscientists for decades, but there is strong evidence to support the idea that homosexuality is an inborn characteristic. Research d one on both identical and fraternal twins, show that there are higher concordance rates of gay monozygotic twins. Rathus, Nevid, and Fichner-Rathus, (2005) report that about 52% of identical (MZ) twin pairs were found to be concordant (in agreement) for a gay male sexual orientation, compared with 22% of fraternal (DZ) twins and only 11% of adoptive brothers (p. 312).Also, evidence has suggested that hormonal influences could be responsible for differences in sexual orientation. Rathus, Nevid, and Fichner-Rathus (2005) explain that prenatal sex hormones be responsible for tissues in the brain to think sexually one way, but for genital development to be the other way. Also, structural examinations on the brains of heterosexual and homosexual males have provided speculative evidence that a part of the hypothalamus in gay males is smaller than that region of the hypothalamus in heterosexual males.The scientific perspectives have helped many gay people come to terms with themselves, whi ch has made coming out easier. Before scientific evidence provided clues that homosexuality could be inborn, many people believe that people choose to be gay. However, the scientific evidence proves that many are actually born gay. Gay people do not choose their sexuality, but rather live according to sexual impulses that are going on within them. Gay individuals now accept themselves more because they are convinced that they did not choose their sexual identity, as much as it was given to them.Many homosexuals have formed organizations that are involved personally with others in sharing life stories and involved politically in achieving equal rights for gays and gay couples Although I have always been attracted to individual of the opposite sex, which means that I am Heterosexual, after learning about the historical and scientific perspectives of Homosexuality that I was not aware of before, I better understand others who are oriented in ways that differ from mine.I feel as though learning about the history, the scientific research concerning cross-species subjects, and the biology on homosexuality can be beneficial for humanity in order to learn tolerance for differences among sexual orientations. References Rathus, S. A. , Nevid, J. S. , and Fichner-Rathus, L. (2005). Human sexuality in a world of diversity. (6th ed. ) Boston, MA Allyn and Bacon.