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Considering the Role of Conditioning in Sexual Orientation

Abstract  

The effects of learning on sexual orientation are rarely addressed in the literature. At the very least, such processes provide
a means of elaborating upon orientation predispositions. Some aspects of our mates may inherently elicit a sexual response,
but other attributes do so only after sexual experience with them. Animal research shows robust, direct effects of conditioning
processes on partner preference with a few studies showing plasticity in preference for sex of partner. Descriptive research
in humans suggests effects of experience on partner preference and, although experimental demonstrations of human sexual conditioning
are neither numerous nor robust, sexual arousal is conditionable in women and men. With modern developments in learning theory
(e.g., expectancy learning and evaluative conditioning), it seems appropriate to renew the investigation of contributions
and limitations of conditioning processes to explaining how cues acquire erotic value and to attempt some integration between
the sexual conditioning literature and research on sexual orientation or more generally sexual partner preference.

  • Content Type Journal Article
  • Category Original Paper
  • Pages 1-9
  • DOI 10.1007/s10508-012-9915-9
  • Authors
    • Heather Hoffmann, Department of Psychology, Knox College, Galesburg, IL 61401-4999, USA
    • Journal Archives of Sexual Behavior
    • Online ISSN 1573-2800
    • Print ISSN 0004-0002
Posted in: Journal Article Abstracts on 03/24/2012 | Link to this post on IFP |
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