Problem:
When it comes to understanding sexual orientation, there are four main theories that people often talk about. The biological theory suggests that things like genetics, hormones, and even brain structure play a role in who we're attracted to (Mustanski et al., 2017). The psychoanalytic theory, which came out of Freud's ideas, claims that childhood experiences and family relationships shape sexual orientation, although most modern researchers don't rely on this explanation anymore (Herek, 2015). The learning theory says orientation develops from reinforcement and experiences over time, kind of like a conditioned response. Finally, the sociological theory focuses on how culture, norms, and the environment influence how people identify and express their sexuality (Rosenfeld, 2017).
Out of these, I think the biological theory makes the most sense for how orientation develops for most people. There's just a lot of research showing that biology plays a big part-like twin studies that show higher similarity in sexual orientation among identical twins compared to fraternal twins (Mustanski et al., 2017). That doesn't mean social influences don't matter, but it does suggest that orientation isn't something people just "choose" or "learn." To me, this perspective also supports the idea that sexual diversity is natural and valid.
Even with more awareness today, discrimination is still very real. I've seen heterosexism show up at work when people automatically assume everyone has an opposite-sex partner-like asking a man about his "wife" without considering he might have a husband. I've also seen monosexism toward bisexual people, such as when others dismiss their identity by saying they're just "confused" or "on the way to being gay or straight" (Herek, 2015). On a more direct level, I've witnessed same-sex couples get strange looks or rude comments in public, which is a form of discrimination that makes people feel unsafe in everyday spaces.
I think the best way to address these issues is to challenge those assumptions when we hear them and work to create spaces where people don't feel pressured to hide parts of who they are. Whether it's through inclusive language, policies, or just being mindful in conversations, small steps can make a big difference. At the end of the day, recognizing both the science of orientation and the social realities of prejudice can help us be more supportive allies. Need Assignment Help?
References:
Herek, G. M. (2015). Sexual orientation and heterosexism. In D. L. Blume & J. S. Hyde (Eds.), The psychology of women and gender). Routledge.
Mustanski, B., Kuper, L., & Greene, G. J. (2017). Development of sexual orientation and identity. In D. A. Hope (Ed.), Contemporary perspectives on lesbian, gay, and bisexual identities. Springer.
Rosenfeld, D. (2017). Social theories of sexuality. In C. J. Patterson (Ed.), Handbook of sexuality and psychology.American Psychological Association.