Is homosexuality a learned behavior

Answer 1

Homosexual behaviors may be learned. However, according to current thinking, homosexual attractions are not learned, at least not directly. Emotions are not directly tied to the portions of brain where learning occurs. Attractions are not the same as behaviors, and the question asks about behaviors. You cannot learn to be attracted to the same gender in the same way somebody cannot learn to be attracted to the opposite gender. You could learn to act like the stereotype for each sexuality but cannot learn to become one. Homosexuality is presumed by many to be genetic and so cannot be helped. Like having blond hair, you can cover if up by dying it, but it will always be there once the dye has grown out.

However, it is possible there are multiple etiologies for homosexual behaviors and attractions. There are LGBT persons who claim they actively chose to be gay. They tend to say it is only a partial choice, and modern science does say sexuality is more fluid than once assumed. Those who believe they chose it tend to have a more constructivist view of life in general. They believe that meaning in life comes from society rather than nature. So assuming some people may be born gay, it doesn't mean that others cannot choose it or be pushed into it. If you do something long enough and want to do it, then feelings should come.

Feelings are amazing things, and they are subject to choices, beliefs, and decisions. Once you make a decision and cut off all other possibilities, then in time, your emotions and attractions may follow. For instance, you might not like certain foods as a child, but you may like them later. Exposure to them may teach you to like them with time. A large portion of love is a choice. Someone may be unkind to us, but we can make a decision to treat them in a loving manner, and in time, we may develop sincere pity or empathy towards them. When someone is depressed, doctors tell them to act as though they are not depressed, act in a loving manner towards themselves, and to do what they would do if they were not depressed. Often, that helps alter their mood.

As an example of how malleable emotions are, a professor put up slides containing a kaleidoscope pattern. Most of the class thought the images were beautiful. Then the professor told them they were images taken from cancer cells. Most of the class suddenly became repulsed. The images didn't change, but their thoughts, information, and beliefs changed their feelings.

Answer 2

No, homosexuality is not a learned behavior. Sexual orientation is considered to be a complex interplay of genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences that develop early in life and remain relatively stable over time. These factors contribute to a person's sexual orientation, including homosexuality.