DiscussionThoughts on the theory of LGB orientation and trauma

submitted by BiHorror from self.LGBDropTheT

As the title states. Usually, when it comes to our sexual orientation, it's always the "born this way." But, sometimes I see others (both homophobes and LGB) who state that some LGB's sexual orientation "changed" due to trauma from abuse they received during childhood.

Any thoughts on that? Just curious what others thought on the idea. Can sexual orientation supposedly be influenced by trauma/abuse? Especially with the studies that have been done on it?

Anyone think there might be some connection? Or is it total bs?

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[–]According-Junket-885 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (7 children)

I don't know about trauma, but sexual orientation is most likely a mix of nature versus nurture.

Homosexuality is at least not 100% genetical, or else there wouldn't exist examples of identical twins with different sexual orientations.

[–]Q-Continuum-kin 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Almost everything is probably epigenetics.

[–]Chocolatepudding 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

Really; well idk. But even in times of great repression and danger men would still find each other, wouldn't that suggest very little nurture involved?

[–]According-Junket-885 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Nurture just means environment in this context. It doesn't mean that men are brought up to be gay by their parents.

[–]BiHorror[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

Despite not being 100% genetical, how much would it realistically be then? Too bad there aren’t many studies on it. But, considering why with homophobia, it would make sense. At least from the arguments I’ve read on against studying.

Two studies I can think of (and mostly brought up) are the twins, and brain differences.

[–]RedJackalRampant homosexual 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

There's a study that determined if one male twin was gay, the other was 50% likely to also be gay. https://youtu.be/qnXUb0zTNuE?t=1137 The video is a bit outdated, but I'm sure you can find the study somewhere.

[–]BiHorror[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Alright, thanks! I'll look up on it.

[–]According-Junket-885 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

No one knows. I saw Richard Dawkins talk about this recently.

The effect of a gene is not inevitably tied to it, but depends upon the environment in which the individual is brought up.

[–]JulienMayfair 7 insightful - 1 fun7 insightful - 0 fun8 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

A couple of thoughts: 1) "Trauma/abuse" is very hard to quantify, and you might argue that no one's life is free of trauma, so how do you determine or quantify the nature and severity of the trauma and then establish a definitive connection to sexual orientation? 2) Lots of children do experience trauma and abuse during childhood, and the majority still turn out heterosexual.

It's one of those arguments that doesn't hold up on any kind of strict scrutiny.

[–]BiHorror[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

True, I can agree with that. It’s just those studies, and when I encounter these people, they always bring them up.

[–]INeedSomeTimeAsexual Ally 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I agree with the 2nd argument because you can easily observe it around the people you know. More often they develop unhealthy straight relationships than "become homosexual" from that. I often heard this argument used against asexuality too and it started getting tiring especially when I never suffered from trauma.

[–]GrouchyHierophantLuGuBrious not Tenebrous 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I don't think sexual orientation is genetic. That being said, I think the importance of trauma is overstated, mainly because of homophobic sources. I don't really think we have any idea why people have sexual orientations, let alone what sexual orientations people actually have.

[–]Q-Continuum-kin 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

It's most likely bisexual people who experience something and it closes off or opens up something they hadn't considered in the past. There are also stories which are similar but don't relate to trauma. People who think they are straight but eventually lose interest in the opposite sex slowly. A traumatic event might just accelerate something which would have happened regardless.

[–]BiHorror[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (2 children)

Maybe I’m reading your comment wrong, but most of the studies were more focused on LG (which is why I wrote homophobia). The sexual abuse by same-sex would supposedly “cause” same sex attraction. Completely. Which was also what these types of people were always preaching in what “caused” homosexuality.

[–]Neo_Shadow_LurkerPronouns: I/Don't/Care 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

The sexual abuse by same-sex would supposedly “cause” same sex attraction.

What is the logic of this? lol

Wouldn't same-sex abuse have the opposite effect, you know, by actually lowering any possible same-sex attraction on the victims?

The funny thing about this is that when the subject is women, these same people say the opposite: opposite-sex abuse turns women into lesbians.

They flip-flop on their beliefs based on convenience, not actual logic.

[–]BiHorror[S] 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

What is the logic of this? lol

You know that, I know that. But, it was this logic among these people. Realistically, as you stated, if that was the case, it would be "causing" the opposite.

The only thing I can think of, is that they're trying to compare and use those pedo studies ("sexual abuse causes pedophilia"), but even that, still wouldn't make sense. Plus, severely fucked up.

[–]Chocolatepudding 1 insightful - 1 fun1 insightful - 0 fun2 insightful - 1 fun -  (4 children)

I've known women who have experienced sexual abuse from men isolate themselves from intimate relationships with men. They haven't taken up with other women. Anecdotally boys abused by women don't seem to choose relationships with men. When you read of boys abused by men it seems sometimes they have male sex partners but no mention of they were gay/bi to begin with. But most people are not sexually abused so it can't be the only reason

[–]RedJackalRampant homosexual 3 insightful - 1 fun3 insightful - 0 fun4 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

I will say I've known a few women who have identified as lesbian after being sexually assaulted or abused by men. It certainly isn't the majority of lesbians or bisexual women.

[–]BiHorror[S] 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

It wasn’t sexual abuse by the opposite sex. It was same sex abuse which would “cause” the same-sex attraction. These were the types of studies I kept seeing from these types of people who used it to preach that homophobia or how homosexuality “starts.”

[–]Chocolatepudding 4 insightful - 1 fun4 insightful - 0 fun5 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

Oh ok sorry misunderstood. It's probably still bs. Has every homosexual person been abused, no

[–]Neo_Shadow_LurkerPronouns: I/Don't/Care 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

When you read of boys abused by men it seems sometimes they have male sex partners but no mention of they were gay/bi to begin with.

The problem with those studies is thay they don't control for the "chicken or the egg" question, which is basicly: does same-sex sexual abuse turns straight men into gay men or are young gay men simply more vulnerable to abuse than their straight counterparts?

This is the one billion dollar question.

Personally, I think the second is more likely, as many young gay men tend to be more femine than their straight peers. Also, the fear of being outed by their abusers make them more likely to also not report being molested.