Does emotional or physical attraction determine sexual orientation?

[wotgoplunk]

Or a mix of both. If so, how much of each?

Also, consider asexuality.

Just throwing this topic out there, keep it clean people. 

[Bob]

I think it's just the way the brain is wired, so neither in that case.

[wotgoplunk]

In that case then, if your brain is wired for example, to be physically attracted to women, but emotionally to men, what would that put you under?

There is a spectrum of course, but this question deals more to the labelling.

And although labels should be avoided, its inevitable in such matters.

[bench warmer]

here's part of it   

Nature Genetics  11, 248 - 256 (1995)
doi:10.1038/ng1195-248
Linkage between sexual orientation and chromosome Xq28 in males but not in females

https://www.nature.com/ng/journal/v11/n3/abs/ng1195-248.html

Have fun looking up the "female answer" yourself.

This in NO WAY either divulges, portrays, exhibits or hints at my sexual orientation.

[thierry13]

In that case then, if your brain is wired for example, to be physically attracted to women, but emotionally to men, what would that put you under?

You then put that into "bisexual" ... <- that's not a joke.

[Bob]

It's getting a bit philosophical and less practical for me, but I imagine there's every type of combination of elements out there.

And there are different types of... bonding, or attraction?, or something.  I mean one way you relate to women, but a different way you relate to men. 

I really think the brain just gets wired up that way.  Whether it's actually genetic material passed down or something chemcial mixture in the womb, I don't know.  Although.. if there are all types of combinations out there... then there must be some in the middle and maybe those people can actually choose.  That would still be wired up in advance, to be in that category.

I just saw the 'emotionally attracted to men' bit and scoffed at first, but then I was thinking there that type of brotherhood bond.  I don't women have that the same way.  Just the roll of genetic dice.

And I see the coffee is working in quite nicely now, so I'm off to work again.

[wotgoplunk]

You then put that into "bisexual" ... <- that's not a joke.

But then you'd have to account for the spectrum again, and the whole thing just gets into this big long battle between which is more important. Unless both are equal, but they nearly never would be, I'd assume.

(And it also in no way represents my actual orientation, btw.)

[wotgoplunk]

I really think the brain just gets wired up that way.  Whether it's actually genetic material passed down or something chemcial mixture in the womb, I don't know.  Although.. if there are all types of combinations out there... then there must be some in the middle and maybe those people can actually choose.  That would still be wired up in advance, to be in that category.

I just saw the 'emotionally attracted to men' bit and scoffed at first, but then I was thinking there that type of brotherhood bond.  I don't women have that the same way.  Just the roll of genetic dice.

I think we can safely say there's a genetic aspect to it, it isn't as if I woke up one day and said "I think I'm going to fall in love with women." Or in the case of someone down the middle, "I think I'm going fall in love with both women and men."

We can securely say it's not a choice, but where do the labels fit? In order to say one's fully heterosexual, do they indeed have to be FULLY heterosexual, or just mostly?

[i heart xenakis]

I think sexual attraction is probably the predominant indicator.  I'm gay but have, on occasion, gotten a "crush" on a girl, but I would never enjoy having sex with one, nor would I be interested in having a relationship with one.  I think often people confuse amoration with adoration, which mucks everything up.  But there was a study done (I don't have a link unfortunately) where homosexual men and women where given things to smell, and were aroused and/or gravitated towards the samples that were human pheromones of the same sex; whether or not that was learned or inate is beside the point; the fact is, homosexuals are chemically attracted to those of the same sex, therefore I feel sexual attraction is the prevading decider.

[pies]

a

[Bob]

I've loved breasts and (female) butts from a very young age.

(Bob scribbles notes on a pad of paper and says "mmm" and "mhhmmm" without decipherable meaning a few times.  He looks out the window in apparent thought, but is actually thinking of nothing.  Nothing at all.)

Mmm... I do note that pies did not specify male or female breasts, so... One might assume pies loved breasts, breasts of all types, male or female breasts, from an very young age, yes?  Do not forget that those breasts might also be that of a chicken or duck or goose.  He does not specify.   Might be a from a beadle dumpling too, eh?

[ahinton]

Although I am not a geneticist, I am inclined to surmise that genetic factors determine sexual orientation, that emotional and/or physical attraction may also influence it and that occasional conflicts between the two may not necessarily be impossible.

Best,

Alistair

[wotgoplunk]

How anyone finds moobs attractive is beyond me. 

If there's conflicts between the two, how do we go about resolving said conflicts?

[ahinton]

If there's conflicts between the two, how do we go about resolving said conflicts?

I began by clarifying that I am not a geneticist and so, by implication, am prepared for the opening part of my statement to be challenged by anyone who is; that said, I didn't say that we either should or could "go about resolving" the conflicts that I mentioned, if and when they may arise. I am not a neuroscientist either, so any response to what I may write about emotional attraction should begin by bearing that fact in mind, but since emotions and responses thereto are effectively chemical changes that take place in the brain as a direct consequence of certain sensual stimuli and their consideration is accordingly within the area of neuroscientific research, just as are the questions of physical attraction which are similarly dependent upon chemical changes occurring as a direct result of sensual stimuli (visual, tactile and/or whatever else); that said, if and when such conflicts do occur in practice, then they would in reality be between a genetic legacy and an immediate series of chemical responses, so how one would "resolve" them or even wish to try to do so is something that I'd be loath to answer.

[richard black]

To my mind, physical attraction, absolutely. I have frequently felt emotionally attracted to men but have never wanted to have sex with them, and I gather from conversations I've had with various friends that this is pretty much the common experience among heterosexual men - and correspondingly among the other three possible categories.

[wotgoplunk]

I began by clarifying that I am not a geneticist and so, by implication, am prepared for the opening part of my statement to be challenged by anyone who is; that said, I didn't say that we either should or could "go about resolving" the conflicts that I mentioned, if and when they may arise. I am not a neuroscientist either, so any response to what I may write about emotional attraction should begin by bearing that fact in mind, but since emotions and responses thereto are effectively chemical changes that take place in the brain as a direct consequence of certain sensual stimuli and their consideration is accordingly within the area of neuroscientific research, just as are the questions of physical attraction which are similarly dependent upon chemical changes occurring as a direct result of sensual stimuli (visual, tactile and/or whatever else); that said, if and when such conflicts do occur in practice, then they would in reality be between a genetic legacy and an immediate series of chemical responses, so how one would "resolve" them or even wish to try to do so is something that I'd be loath to answer.

So technically we could say, it's completely irrelevant as both are controlled simply by chemical changes. And I would agree with this, but the question more relates to societal values.

I think it's rather undeniable that the whole thing is primarily if not entirely genetically controlled.

But we're a society that demands labels. And that's what this question really is about. How does society deal with such things? 

[counterpoint]

Funny, how the way we ask a question makes it really difficult to find an answer   

Let's rephrase the question:

Does sexual orientation determine emotional or physical attraction?

 

[G.W.K]

I think (without any offense to homosexuals) it's just a part of the brain that never developed correctly, therefore making people fancy the same sex, rather than the opposite.

G.W.K

[ahinton]

I think (without any offense to homosexuals) it's just a part of the brain that never developed correctly, therefore making people fancy the same sex, rather than the opposite.

I somehow think that you might actually elicit a response to that statement...

Best,

Alistair

[thalbergmad]

I have frequently felt emotionally attracted to men but have never wanted to have sex with them

I expect Hinty is rather pleased to hear that.

Thal

[ahinton]

I expect Hinty is rather pleased to hear that.

Neither pleased nor displeased, old chap; I just accept what Richard wrote at face value and would expect you to do likewise.

Best,

Alistair

[G.W.K]

Neither pleased nor displeased...

Are you a homophobic? 

G.W.K

[ahinton]

Are you a homophobic?

No.

Best,

Alistair

[zheer]

 Does emotional or physical attraction determine sexual orientation?

   Physical attraction determines sexual orientation, an erection is a sure way of knowing
which sex one is attracted too . Recently i was speaking to a gynecologist, she told me that by the age of 11-12 we are already thinking and wanting sex, therefore our sexual orientation will most likely remain the same for the rest of our life.
   Emotional attraction, is two words, the first word emotion on its own can be applied to both men and women, one man for another man, or one women for another women. However the second word attraction can indicate sexual orientation, since attraction is usually a physical thing.
    If in doubt, look at some pornographic images of both men and women, if you begin to notice some physical changes once looking at images of men and you are man, the chances are you are homosexual, however if you are indifferent to both the sight of men and women then you are asexual. I hope that helps.

[dnephi]

It is a mixture of genetic and epigenetic factors, as well as a function of differentiation and induction during development.  Beyond that, childhood experiences (such as a girl sexually abused by her father becoming lesbian) and further development have their respective roles.  It's no one thing.

This "gay gene" is not causation: it's association.  In other words, those who have it are more likely to be gay, and those who are gay are more likely to have it.  It's not a 1:1 ratio.  So, to be frank, "gay gene" is a misnomer.

[slobone]

I think it's how much you've had to drink...