Although causal theories of sexual orientation generally fall into two categories, biological/genetic and social/environmental, sexual orientation, as a complex, multidimensional construct, cannot be explained fully by either alone. Most theories are constrained by their operational definitions of sexual orientation (e.g., self-identification, sexual attraction, and/or sexual activity); evidence that sexual orientation is fluid, especially for women; and their emphasis on explaining homosexuality rather than heterosexuality, often grouping homosexuality and bisexuality together. Although women's sexual orientation has been the focus of scholarship, theories tend to focus on men's sexual orientation.

Genetic Theories

There are some interesting genetic theories about sexual orientation. These include homosexual men report more brothers who are homosexual than do heterosexual men and homosexual women report more sisters who are homosexual than do heterosexual ...

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