Mecky Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 No, it's conditional like most things in life Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angos Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 I read an interesting article the other day but I'm damned if I can find it again. The idea put forward by the author was that if being gay or lesbian is a natural thing i.e the individual knew from an early age that they were gay or lesbian, is it not right to assume that being homophobic could be the same? Instead of being a learned response could it be a natural inbuilt feeling? For the record I would just like to state that I am not gay and neither do I have any ill feeling towards the gay or lesbian community. I just thought it was an interesting viewpoint on the subject. Phobias may be memories passed down in genes from ancestors Memories may be passed down through generations in DNA in a process that may be the underlying cause of phobias. Memories can be passed down to later generations through genetic switches that allow offspring to inherit the experience of their ancestors, according to new research that may explain how phobias can develop. Scientists have long assumed that memories and learned experiences built up during a lifetime must be passed on by teaching later generations or through personal experience. However, new research has shown that it is possible for some information to be inherited biologically through chemical changes that occur in DNA. Genes trigger phobias in kids and teens Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 If homophobia were actually a fear of something instead of just bigotry then you might have a point. The etymology of the word is misleading though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angos Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 No, as stated in the OP homosexuality and heterosexuality are largely determined by genetics (although even genetically predisposed behaviours are affected by environment). Homophobia isn't genetic, it's learnt behaviour. (As are all forms of bigotry that I can think of at the moment). Sexuality is largely genetic. Do I detest Brussels sprouts because I leaned to hate them, or is my dislike of them genetic. Humans show substantial differences in taste sensitivity to many different substances. Some of this variation is known to be genetic in origin, and many other inter-individual differences are likely to be partially or wholly determined by genetic mechanisms. Pretty much everything about humans is determined by our DNA, what we like or dislike is largely governed by our DNA. The question is, is it possible for be to learn to like Brussel sprout when the mere sight of them makes me want to . ---------- Post added 10-12-2013 at 14:33 ---------- If homophobia were actually a fear of something instead of just bigotry then you might have a point. The etymology of the word is misleading though. A phobia is by definition an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dosxuk Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 A phobia is by definition an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something. But homophobia isn't a real phobia, same as arachnophobia isn't being afraid of people who like spiders. Homophobia is simply bigotry, and as such a cultural construct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ousetunes Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 I just dislike Claire Balding because she's Claire Balding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cyclone Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Do I detest Brussels sprouts because I leaned to hate them, or is my dislike of them genetic. Humans show substantial differences in taste sensitivity to many different substances. Some of this variation is known to be genetic in origin, and many other inter-individual differences are likely to be partially or wholly determined by genetic mechanisms. Pretty much everything about humans is determined by our DNA, what we like or dislike is largely governed by our DNA. Not true at all. Whether you like a taste or not does have a large genetic basis, but it is also likely to have a strong environmental influence. Sprouts is a good example, children are more sensitive to bitter tastes, hence most children dislike sprouts. http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-03/fyi-why-do-kids-hate-brussels-sprouts Whether they continue to dislike them as an adult could well be down to the environment though. Whilst using a sprout analogy though, I have to ask if you are intending to taste homosexuality? A phobia is by definition an extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something. Yes it is. But homophobia doesn't describe that, it describes an illogical bigoted dislike of people who fancy the same sex. No fear involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bladesman Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Its because even now same sex relationships haven't been "normalised" in the mainstream media; when all you see on tv, in the papers and in films etc is heterosexual behaviour and not, or rarely, homosexual behaviour, young people grow up believing it isn't normal. Pretty much summed it up right there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Halibut Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Homophobia is a learnt behaviour just like racism and sexism are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronthenekred Posted December 10, 2013 Share Posted December 10, 2013 Homophobia is a learnt behaviour just like racism and sexism are. I agree. On the other hand if you want to push an agenda you can always blame it on genetics/DNA as a way of absolving yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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