Where does a person’s sexual orientation come from? Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of studies have attempted to answer this question. This research suggests that there isn’t a simple explanation and that two people might develop the same sexual orientation for very different reasons. In today’s show, we’re going to talk about the current state of the science, including what we know about the roles of immunological, hormonal, and genetic factors. We’re also going to discuss why we know less about the development of sexual orientation in women than in men, as well as some of the complexities inherent in studying the origins of human sexuality.

My guest is Dr. Malvina Skorska, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Toronto Mississauga and at Brock University. She is also in training to become a psychotherapist in order to bridge both research and clinical work. Her research focuses on sexual orientation and gender dysphoria and has been published in leading scientific journals.

Some of the specific topics we discuss include:

Why is it important to study how sexual orientation develops?
How is sexual orientation defined in scientific research, given that sexual attraction, behavior, and identity do not overlap perfectly?
Why are men with more older brothers more likely to be gay?
How is testosterone exposure in the womb related to sexual orientation?
Is there such a thing as a “gay gene?”

Be sure to check out Malvina’s website to learn more about her work.

Thank you to our sponsors!

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Episode 188: Where Does Our Sexual Orientation Come From?

Sex and Psychology Podcast

Episode 188: Where Does Our Sexual Orientation Come From?