The science of sexual orientation.

Hammock Parties · 03-13-2006, 06:39 PM

Double yew tee eff?

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/...n1385230.shtml

CBS) There are few issues as hotly contested — and as poorly understood — as the question of what makes a person gay or straight. It's not only a political, social, and religious question but also a scientific question, one that might someday have an actual, provable answer.

The handful of scientists who work in this under-funded and politically charged field will tell you: That answer is a long way off. But as Lesley Stahl reports, their efforts are already yielding tantalizing clues. One focus of their research is twins.

The bedrooms of 9-year-old twins Adam and Jared couldn't be more different. Jared's room is decked out with camouflage, airplanes, and military toys, while Adam's room sports a pastel canopy, stuffed animals, and white horses.

When Stahl came for a visit, Jared was eager to show her his G.I. Joe collection. "I have ones that say like Marine and SWAT. And then that's where I keep all the guns for 'em," he explained.

Adam was also proud to show off his toys. "This is one of my dolls. Bratz baby," he said.

Adam wears pinkish-purple nail polish, adorned with stars and diamonds.

Asked if he went to school like that, Adam says, "Uh-huh. I just showed them my nails, and they were like, 'Why did you do that?'"

Adam's behavior is called childhood gender nonconformity, meaning a child whose interests and behaviors are more typical of the opposite sex. Research shows that kids with extreme gender nonconformity usually grow up to be gay.

Danielle, Adam and Jared's mom, says she began to notice this difference in Adam when he was about 18 months old and began asking for a Barbie doll. Jared, meanwhile, was asking for fire trucks.

Not that much has changed. Jared’s favorite game now is Battlefield 2, Special Forces. As for Adam, he says, "It's called Neopets: The Darkest Faerie."

Asked how he would describe himself to a stranger, Jared says, "I'm a kid who likes G.I. Joes and games and TV."

"I would say like a girl," Adam replied to the same question. When asked why he thinks that is, Adam shrugged.

"To me, cases like that really scream out, 'Hey, it's not out there. It's in here.' There's no indication that this mother is prone to raise very feminine boys because his twin is not that way," says Michael Bailey, a psychology professor at Northwestern University and a leading researcher in the field of sexual orientation.

Bailey says he doesn't think nurture is a plausible explanation.

Psychologists used to believe homosexuality was caused by nurture — namely overbearing mothers and distant fathers — but that theory has been disproved. Today, scientists are looking at genes, environment, brain structure and hormones. There is one area of consensus: that homosexuality involves more than just sexual behavior; it’s physiological.

There's four more pages so clicketh the link.

Hammock Parties · 03-13-2006, 06:44 PM

This is hilarious:

There were signs, even when they were little kids. Their mother told Stahl that Steve loved sports and the outdoors while Greg liked helping out in the kitchen. But it wasn't until high school that Steve became convinced Greg was gay.

Asked if he said anything to his brother, Steve says, "I did actually. And I think the way I worded it was something like, 'You know, Greg, if you're gay, it's OK with me. And I'll still love you the same.'

And he gave a very philosophical answer. He said something like, 'Well, I love the soul of a person and not the physical being.'

And in my mind, I was like, 'Yep, he's gay.'"

Hammock Parties · 03-13-2006, 06:47 PM

This is just weird:

While biologists look at hormones for answers about human sexuality, other scientists are looking for patterns in statistics. And hard as this is to believe, they have found something they call "the older brother effect."

"The more older brothers a man has, the greater that man's chance of being gay," says Bailey.

Asked if that's true, Bailey says, "That is absolutely true."

If this comes as a shock to you, you’re not alone. But it turns out, it’s one of the most solid findings in this field, demonstrated in study after study.

And the numbers are significant: for every older brother a man has, his chances of being gay increase by one third. Older sisters make no difference, and there's no corresponding effect for lesbians. A first-born son has about a 2 percent chance of being gay.

Jenny Gump · 03-13-2006, 06:50 PM

What about men who live with their parents and are still virgins? This sounds pretty gay to me.

Hammock Parties · 03-13-2006, 06:51 PM

FTR I have two sisters. I'm off the hook.

Jenny Gump · 03-13-2006, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goxlibutscrale

FTR I have two sisters. I'm off the hook.

Do u spank it thinking of female folks?

go bo · 03-13-2006, 06:52 PM

the link hath been clicked, my liege...

and most interesting is it...

JBucc · 03-13-2006, 06:53 PM

Looks like someone could use some electroshock therapy

go bo · 03-13-2006, 07:01 PM

oh, c'mon...

we'd really really like to know...

Hammock Parties · 03-13-2006, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by go bo

oh, c'mon...

we'd really really like to know...

You're such a freak, go bo. I bet you really love slapping them skins...

go bo · 03-13-2006, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goxlibutscrale

You're such a freak, go bo. I bet you really love slapping them skins...

depends on whose er, i mean which skins you're talking about...

**KcMizzou** · 03-13-2006, 07:10 PM

What kind of parent lets a 9 year old boy wear nail polish?

Mr. Laz · 03-13-2006, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

What kind of parent lets a 9 year old boy wear nail polish?

the non-homophobic kind ..........

Coach · 03-13-2006, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KcMizzou

What kind of parent lets a 9 year old boy wear nail polish?

My thoughts exactly.

**Rain Man** · 03-13-2006, 07:18 PM

I dunno, Laz. I wouldn't let my son wear a dress to school, but I wouldn't have a problem if my daughter did. Some things are simply gender-specific, and I think nail polish is one of them.

03-13-2006, 06:39 PM	Topic Starter
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4730478	The science of sexual orientation. Double yew tee eff? http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/...n1385230.shtml CBS) There are few issues as hotly contested — and as poorly understood — as the question of what makes a person gay or straight. It's not only a political, social, and religious question but also a scientific question, one that might someday have an actual, provable answer. The handful of scientists who work in this under-funded and politically charged field will tell you: That answer is a long way off. But as Lesley Stahl reports, their efforts are already yielding tantalizing clues. One focus of their research is twins. The bedrooms of 9-year-old twins Adam and Jared couldn't be more different. Jared's room is decked out with camouflage, airplanes, and military toys, while Adam's room sports a pastel canopy, stuffed animals, and white horses. When Stahl came for a visit, Jared was eager to show her his G.I. Joe collection. "I have ones that say like Marine and SWAT. And then that's where I keep all the guns for 'em," he explained. Adam was also proud to show off his toys. "This is one of my dolls. Bratz baby," he said. Adam wears pinkish-purple nail polish, adorned with stars and diamonds. Asked if he went to school like that, Adam says, "Uh-huh. I just showed them my nails, and they were like, 'Why did you do that?'" Adam's behavior is called childhood gender nonconformity, meaning a child whose interests and behaviors are more typical of the opposite sex. Research shows that kids with extreme gender nonconformity usually grow up to be gay. Danielle, Adam and Jared's mom, says she began to notice this difference in Adam when he was about 18 months old and began asking for a Barbie doll. Jared, meanwhile, was asking for fire trucks. Not that much has changed. Jared’s favorite game now is Battlefield 2, Special Forces. As for Adam, he says, "It's called Neopets: The Darkest Faerie." Asked how he would describe himself to a stranger, Jared says, "I'm a kid who likes G.I. Joes and games and TV." "I would say like a girl," Adam replied to the same question. When asked why he thinks that is, Adam shrugged. "To me, cases like that really scream out, 'Hey, it's not out there. It's in here.' There's no indication that this mother is prone to raise very feminine boys because his twin is not that way," says Michael Bailey, a psychology professor at Northwestern University and a leading researcher in the field of sexual orientation. Bailey says he doesn't think nurture is a plausible explanation. Psychologists used to believe homosexuality was caused by nurture — namely overbearing mothers and distant fathers — but that theory has been disproved. Today, scientists are looking at genes, environment, brain structure and hormones. There is one area of consensus: that homosexuality involves more than just sexual behavior; it’s physiological. There's four more pages so clicketh the link.
Posts: 277,765

03-13-2006, 06:44 PM	#2
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4730478	This is hilarious: There were signs, even when they were little kids. Their mother told Stahl that Steve loved sports and the outdoors while Greg liked helping out in the kitchen. But it wasn't until high school that Steve became convinced Greg was gay. Asked if he said anything to his brother, Steve says, "I did actually. And I think the way I worded it was something like, 'You know, Greg, if you're gay, it's OK with me. And I'll still love you the same.' And he gave a very philosophical answer. He said something like, 'Well, I love the soul of a person and not the physical being.' And in my mind, I was like, 'Yep, he's gay.'" __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 277,765

03-13-2006, 06:47 PM	#3
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4730478	This is just weird: While biologists look at hormones for answers about human sexuality, other scientists are looking for patterns in statistics. And hard as this is to believe, they have found something they call "the older brother effect." "The more older brothers a man has, the greater that man's chance of being gay," says Bailey. Asked if that's true, Bailey says, "That is absolutely true." If this comes as a shock to you, you’re not alone. But it turns out, it’s one of the most solid findings in this field, demonstrated in study after study. And the numbers are significant: for every older brother a man has, his chances of being gay increase by one third. Older sisters make no difference, and there's no corresponding effect for lesbians. A first-born son has about a 2 percent chance of being gay. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 277,765

03-13-2006, 06:50 PM	#4
Jenny Gump Feloniously Restrained Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: MO Casino cash: $10004900	What about men who live with their parents and are still virgins? This sounds pretty gay to me. __________________ "Blah blah blah blahhhh”
Posts: 5,171

03-13-2006, 06:51 PM	#5
Hammock Parties I'll be back. Join Date: Nov 2002 Casino cash: $4730478	FTR I have two sisters. I'm off the hook. __________________ Chiefs game films
Posts: 277,765

03-13-2006, 06:52 PM	#7
go bo Flop = Man of Steel!! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: independence Casino cash: $10006405	the link hath been clicked, my liege... and most interesting is it...
Posts: 36,678

03-13-2006, 06:53 PM	#8
JBucc MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Casino cash: $10004952	Looks like someone could use some electroshock therapy
Posts: 12,016

03-13-2006, 07:01 PM	#9
go bo Flop = Man of Steel!! Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: independence Casino cash: $10006405	oh, c'mon... we'd really really like to know...
Posts: 36,678

03-13-2006, 07:10 PM	#12
KcMizzou Supporter Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Parkville MO Casino cash: $10005170	What kind of parent lets a 9 year old boy wear nail polish?
Posts: 54,695

03-13-2006, 07:18 PM	#15
Rain Man NFL's #1 Ermines Fan Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $3338491 VARSITY	I dunno, Laz. I wouldn't let my son wear a dress to school, but I wouldn't have a problem if my daughter did. Some things are simply gender-specific, and I think nail polish is one of them. __________________ I'm putting random letters here as a celebration of free speech: xigrakgrah misorojeq rkemeseit.
Posts: 141,338