“…we should…be asking ourselves why we as a society are so emotionally invested in this research. Will it – or should it – make any difference in the way we perceive ourselves and others or how we live our lives and allow others to live theirs? – William Byne: The Biological Evidence Challenged (1994, Scientific American)

Correction: In the first version of this episode I incorrectly estimated the number of homosexuals in the US. Assuming a US population of about 260 million with about 1/2 female and 1/2 male, then 2% (females) and 3% (males) of 260 million would equal about 6 and a half million total. I updated the audio file to include this corrected information.

Resources on Sexual Orientation

• If you would like to see the concept map I used to hold my notes for this episode click here: sexual orientation.
• If you would like to download the PowerPoint file containing these same notes click here: sexual orientation powerpoint file.

Research on Sexual Orientation

Bailey, J.M., Bobrow, D., Wolfe, M., & Mikach, S. (1995). Sexual Orientation of Adult Sons of Gay Fathers. Developmental Psychology, 31 (1), 124-129.

Bell, A., Weinberg, M., & Hammersmith, S. (1981). Sexual preference: Its development in men and women. Bloomington: Indiana University Press.

Bem, D.J. (1886). Exotic becomes erotic: A Developmental theory of sexual attraction. Psychological Review, 103, 320-335.

Byne, W. (1994). The Biological Evidence Challenged. Scientific American, May.

Ciccarelli, S. & Meyer, G.F. (2006). Psychology. Prentice Hall.

Cantor, J.M., Blanchard, R., Paterson, A.D. & Bogaert, A.F. (2002). How many gay men owe their sexual orientation to fraternal birth order? Archives of Sexual Behavior, 31, 1; Psychology Module.

Gladue, B.A, The BioPsychology of Sexual Orientation. in Current Directions in Human Sexuality and Intimate Relationships, Fisher, T.D. & McNulty, J. eds. Allyn and Bacon.

Hock, R. (2010). Human Sexuality, 2e. Prentice Hall.

Kendler, K.S., Thornton, L.M., Gilman, S.E., & Kessler, R.C. (2000). Sexual orientation in a U.S. national sample of twin and nontwin sibling pairs. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 157; 11; Health Module.

King, B.M. (2005). Human Sexuality Today. Prentice Hall, 5e.

Levay, S. (1991). A difference in hypothalamic structure between heterosexual and homosexual men. Science, 253, 1034-1037.

McClintock, M.K. & Herdt, G., Rethinking Puberty: The Development of Sexual Attraction in Current Directions in Human Sexuality and Intimate Relationships, Fisher, T.D. & McNulty, J. eds. Allyn and Bacon.

McFadden, D., Loehlin, J.C. and Pasanen, E.G. (1996) Additional findings on heritability and prenatal masculinization of cochlear mechanisms: Click-evoked otoacoustic emissions. Hearing Research, 97, 102-119.

Patterson, C.J. (2000). Family Relationships of Lesbians and Gay Men, Journal of Marriage and Family, 62, 1052-1069

Rind, B. (2001). Gay and bisexual adolescent boys’ sexual experiences with men: an empirical examamination of psychological correlates in a nonclinical sample. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 30 (4).

Selekman, S. (2007). Homosexuality in children and their parents. Pediatric Nursing, 33(5).

Smith, B. (2007). The Psychology of Sex and Gender. Allyn and Bacon.

Toates, F. (2007). Biological Psychology. Prentice Hall.

Wood, S.E., Wood, E. G., & Boyd, D. (2005). The World of Psychology, 5e. Allyn and Bacon.