An Intriguing Hypothesis on Homosexuality

[Bouncer]

Male homosexuality has stumped evolutionary biologists and psychologists for decades. According to evolutionary theory, the highest goal is to pass on one's genes, yet homosexual males will father no direct offspring without the help of surrogates. Moreover, homosexuality seems to be at least partially heritable and is relatively common in developed societies. Why would such an evolutionarily costly trait be so prevalent?

Past studies have suggested that genes related to homosexuality might confer a mating advantage to heterosexuals expressing them, and that female relatives of homosexual males may receive a boost to fecundity. Evidence supporting those notions remains sparse, however.

Full Story: Could Wealth Inequality Lead to Homosexuality? | RealClearScience

[Bouncer]

My theory is that somehow our minds and bodies sense when there is an over population of our species and this is a way to slow down the growth rate. A preventative measure if you will. In societies where there is lots of space and room to grow you usually have less homosexuality.

These kinds of things are rarely talked about because it can be offensive or misunderstood as gay hate but I think it's important to understand the actual science behind it. Nothing in this world happens without reason, nothing is magical, every answer is out there, we just need to find them.

[AvidFisherman]

I am thinking that it's more of a difference within society, not a biological factor. People in a gemeinschaft community are less likely to act on their own accord, they follow the social norms of the community more so than someone in a gesellschaft community.

So, someone who is gay in a town of 150 people would feel greater social forces on then to be straight than someone in a city of 1.5 million.

[chuckz28]

I don't know. I relate it to some people are sexually aroused by the common things like boobs and asses, some are aroused by less common things like feet, or even doo doo. Others find those things disgusting and not sexual at all. I think homosexuality is the same thing. Somewhere in the brain they are aroused by their same sex instead of the opposite while others find it disgusting. Most everybody has their thing that turns them on. Some gene somewhere gets flipped and viola. See a dick, get a boner.

I don't think any species has the ability to genetically know there is too many of its own around otherwise you would be implying there is some kind of uncontrollable hive mind in humans. I think we would do the same thing as an infested house of spiders and just keep fucking and dying while crawling over ourselves genetically. Of course we can have the knowledge to recognize that problem and police it but I don't think our genes would change.

[Bouncer]

I am thinking that it's more of a difference within society, not a biological factor. People in a gemeinschaft community are less likely to act on their own accord, they follow the social norms of the community more so than someone in a gesellschaft community.

So, someone who is gay in a town of 150 people would feel greater social forces on then to be straight than someone in a city of 1.5 million.

Agree bro for sure. BUT. Lets talk about the desire in the first place. Science tells us that the #1 goal of any species is to pass on genes. To be sexually attracted to the same sex in the first place prevents this. That's where my theory comes from. The idea of someone being attracted to the same sex "just because" is not a satisfactory answer. There is a direct reason for it.

[Bouncer]

I don't know. I relate it to some people are sexually aroused by the common things like boobs and asses, some are aroused by less common things like feet, or even doo doo. Others find those things disgusting and not sexual at all. I think homosexuality is the same thing. Somewhere in the brain they are aroused by their same sex instead of the opposite while others find it disgusting. Most everybody has their thing that turns them on. Some gene somewhere gets flipped and viola. See a dick, get a boner.

I don't think any species has the ability to genetically know there is too many of its own around otherwise you would be implying there is some kind of uncontrollable hive mind in humans. I think we would do the same thing as an infested house of spiders and just keep fucking and dying while crawling over ourselves genetically. Of course we can have the knowledge to recognize that problem and police it but I don't think our genes would change.

Good points bro.

A point on the hive mind though. Humans absolutely have it. If you look at trends and patterns there are many many cases where we all act as one without even realizing it. Who's to say that can't go deeper into our genes?

[chuckz28]

Good points bro.

A point on the hive mind though. Humans absolutely have it. If you look at trends and patterns there are many many cases where we all act as one without even realizing it. Who's to say that can't go deeper into our genes?

I'd have to see some evidence to make a jump toward beleiving a hive mind. Just sounds super natural to me. I think that what you are speaking of is most likely an animal instinct passed from one generation to the next. Ex. All creatures know how to breathe coming out of the womb. Humans will be predispositioned to act in similar ways even given isolation.

[Bouncer]

I'd have to see some evidence to make a jump toward beleiving a hive mind. Just sounds super natural to me. I think that what you are speaking of is most likely an animal instinct passed from one generation to the next. Ex. All creatures know how to breathe coming out of the womb. Humans will be predispositioned to act in similar ways even given isolation.

You Have a Hive Mind - Scientific American

[chuckz28]

You Have a Hive Mind - Scientific American

Way I read that was the neurons in the brain act like a hive mind but they didn't show a connection between multiple humans unless I missed something. Like they were saying a single bee = a single neuron as to a hive of bees = your brain.

[Bouncer]

Way I read that was the neurons in the brain act like a hive mind but they didn't show a connection between multiple humans unless I missed something.

Umm the whole article is about that very connection. lol. This is becoming an argument about interpretation at this point. lol.

Again I'm not saying my idea is correct and you are wrong, I just think it's interesting regardless. There is definitely more to homosexuality then we understand.

[chuckz28]

Umm the whole article is about that very connection. lol. This is becoming an argument about interpretation at this point. lol.

Again I'm not saying my idea is correct and you are wrong, I just think it's interesting regardless. There is definitely more to homosexuality then we understand.

I wasn't trying to argue anything bro. I just read that as a connection with the neurons in a brain. Maybe scrum can way in here. I agree though there is some genetic component causing it. Better than saying Homosexuality is the devil and God hates the devil lol.

[Bouncer]

Yea I'd like to hear what scrum has to say. I think we are on the right track.

[chuckz28]

Your theory is interesting and worth taking a look at though. I'm curious is there any species that have exhibited any form of population control? I mean species go extinct all the time but I don't knkw if any of those were under their own accord. Also homosexuality is present in many species as well as during a time in human history when there were far fewer of us. Has the ratio of homosexuality changed in humans or do they just have a larger voice in today's connected world? Interesting questions that I wonder if there are answers to.

[TKD]

My theory is that somehow our minds and bodies sense when there is an over population of our species and this is a way to slow down the growth rate. A preventative measure if you will. In societies where there is lots of space and room to grow you usually have less homosexuality.

These kinds of things are rarely talked about because it can be offensive or misunderstood as gay hate but I think it's important to understand the actual science behind it. Nothing in this world happens without reason, nothing is magical, every answer is out there, we just need to find them.

Kind of how some reptile can change sex to reproduce but the other end of the spectrum. People want sex but avoid reproduction.

[Scrumhalf]

Hard to say. The two best explanations I have read are that the allele that codes for homesexuality confers feminine qualities to the individual. In the first explanation, apparently women prefer men with some feminine characteristics, ostensibly an indicator of kindness, empathy, etc. that may be beneficial as a partner in child rearing. So, everyone has this allele and it is beneficial for propagation as a species, but if this gene expresses itself more strongly than on average, then that may be the trigger for homosexuality.

The alternative explanation I have read is that any allele that codes for feminine characteristics has a benefit for women to make them more attractive to males. So, there is something on the X chromosome that does this but when it expresses itself in men although rarely, it can cause homosexuality but since it is relatively rare, it is still a net benefit to the species.

Sure is complicated and we don't really know but the rate at which the understanding of the human genome is going, I can bet we will figure out these things in the next 20 to 30 years.