Human Sexuality Focusing on Attraction Research
Human sexuality is one of the main reasons we experience different feelings, behaviors, and thoughts. Sexuality is often associated with habits and preferences that conform to sexual behavior, and each person associates it differently. Researchers still fully understand human sexuality as it entails more than just sexual activity between two or more persons (Johns et al., 2012). However, for most people, sexual behavior is usually due to attraction from the individual they form a relationship.
Sexual attraction has been cited as the most effective approach to measuring an individual’s sexual orientation. There are different forms of attraction by humans resulting in their sexual identity. For instance, pansexual is termed as a gender-blind attraction experienced by all persons. On the other hand, Gynosexual refers to all individuals who have their attractions focused on females (Johns et al., 2012). In this case, gender is not specified and reflects fairly on both males and females.
There is a lot of controversy regarding how sexual orientation can differ between men and women. It is said men’s sexual orientations are linked to patterns of sexual arousal, while women have to have sexual stimulation/stimuli. (Bailey et al., 2016) I did have a hard time believing this as I am curious about how this information was obtained. It is said that in most Western surveys only 5% or fewer identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community. I do feel this comes from how society still views non-heterosexual people as the majority.
While heterosexual, gay, and lesbianism are considered the main attractions exhibited by humans in the aspect of their sexuality, other attractions are indirectly associated with sexuality. When it comes to sexual orientation and sexual attraction there are so many factors that can influence the other. As well as everyone is different and things are fluid so just because research says one thing does not mean it applies to all.
Reference:
Bailey, J. M., Vasey, P. L., Diamond, L. M., Breedlove, S. M., Vilain, E., & Epprecht, M. (2016). Sexual orientation, controversy, and science. Psychological Science in the Public Interest, 17(2), 45–101. https://doi.org/10.1177/1529100616637616
Johns, M. M., Zimmerman, M., & Bauermeister, J. A. (2012). Sexual Attraction, Sexual Identity, and Psychosocial Wellbeing in a National Sample of Young Women During Emerging Adulthood. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 42(1), 82–95. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-012-9795-2
Sexual attraction is truly a fascinating concept. There are genetic components behind what we find attractive in a potential mate, and there’s certainly a psychological component that comes into play, but ultimately, it’s like former Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s definition of obscenity: “I know it when I see it” (Lattman, 2007).
What makes it even more complex is, as you mentioned, attraction to those who are of a different sex. I suppose it ultimately comes down to knowing it when you see it, but why is it that what I see may be perceived differently than what you see? Why might I find someone attractive but you disagree? An interesting paradox, to be sure.
Lattman, P. (2007, September 27). The origins of Justice Stewart’s ”I know it when I see it”. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved July 16, 2022, from https://www.wsj.com/articles/BL-LB-4558