The exotic becomes the erotic?
Despite the finding that at least one part of the brain is
larger in heterosexual men than in gay men, Bern believes
biological factors such as hormones, genetic makeup,
and brain anatomy don't influence our sexual preferences
directly but rather determine our temperament. And temperament,
in turn, influences the activities and playmates children
prefer.
So while an aggressive boy might relish rough sports, a
girl with a gentle disposition may prefer hopscotch. And
just as these two will feel different from each other, so
too will a rough-playing tomboy feel different from girls
who prefer Barbie dolls. Bern says that feeling unlike
your same-sex peers makes you perceive them as "exotic, "
producing physiological arousal--faster heartbeats,
increased blood pressure--that's later transformed
into sexual attraction. As Bern puts it, "the exotic
becomes erotic."
In a detailed article in Psychological Review, Bern supports
his claims by pointing to studies that show the vast majority
of gender-nonconforming boys wind up gay or bisexual,
while most who conform do not. Whether or not the theory
is accepted--and thus far it has earned both praise and
pans from other experts--it's sure to add fresh fodder
to the debate over whether sexual orientation is born or
bred
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