Abstract
In the present study of British respondents, few differences were found in the parental backgrounds of homosexual vs. heterosexual males. These findings were similar to those reported for male homosexuals vs. male heterosexuals living in the United States. It is suggested that a multifactorial and developmental theory of sexual orientation, including a more precise definition of homosexuality-heterosexuality, is needed to replace the simplistic and thus far generally unsupported explanations involving limited types of parental behavior.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Apperson, L. B., and McAdoo, W. G., Jr. (1968). Parental factors in the childhood of homosexuals.J. Abnorm. Psychol. 73: 201–206.
Benda, C. E. (1963). Existential psychotherapy of homosexuality.Rev. Existent. Psychol. Psychiat. 3: 133–152.
Bene, E. (1965). On the genesis of male homosexuality: An attempt at clarifying the role of the parents.Brit. J. Psychiat. 111: 803–813.
Bieber, I., Dain, H. J., Dince, P. R., Drellich, M. G., Grand, H. G., Gundlach, R. H., Kremer, M. W., Rifkin, A. H., Wilbur, C. B., and Bieber, T. B. (1962).Homosexuality: A Psychoanalytic Study. Basic Books, New York.
Braaten, L., and Darling, C. (1965). Overt and covert homosexual problems among male college students.Genet. Psychol. Monogr. 71: 269–310.
Brown, D. G. (1963). Homosexuality and family dynamics.Bull. Menninger Clin. 27: 227–232.
Crowne, D. P., and Marlowe, D. (1960). A new scale of social desirability independent of psychopathology.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 24: 349–354.
Edwards, H. E. (1963). The relationship between reported early life experiences with parents and adult male homosexuality. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Tennessee.
Evans, R. B. (1969). Childhood parental relationships of homosexual men.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 33: 129–135.
Freud, S. (1916).Leonardo DaVinci. Knopf, New York.
Freund, K., and Pinkava, V. (1961). Homosexuality in man and its association with parental relationships.Rev. Czech. Med. 7: 32–40.
Gough, H. G. (1952). Identifying psychological femininity.Educ. Psychol. Meas. 12: 427–439.
Greenblatt, D. R. (1966). Semantic differential analysis of the “triangular system” hypothesis in “adjusted” overt male homosexuals. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of California.
Greenstein, J. M. (1966). Father characteristics and sex-typing.J. Pers. Soc. Psychol. 3: 271–277.
Hooker, E. (1969). Parental relations and male homosexuality in patient and nonpatient samples.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 33: 140–142.
Jonas, K. H. (1944). An objective approach to the personality and environment in homosexuality.Psychiat. Quart. 18: 626–641.
Kinsey, A. C. Pomeroy, W. B., and Martin, C. E. (1948).Sexual behavior in the human male. W. B. Saunders, Philadelphia.
Liddicoat, R. (1957). Homosexuality.Brit. Med. J. 9: 1110–1111.
Miller, P. R. (1958). The effeminate passive obligatory homosexual.Arch. Neurol. Psychiat. 80: 612–618.
O'Connor, P. J. (1964). Aetiological factors in homosexuality as seen in Royal Air Force psychiatric practice.Brit. J. Psychiat. 110: 381–391.
Opler, M. K, and Singer, J. L. (1956). Ethnic differences in behavior and psychopathology: Italian and Irish.Int. J. Soc. Psychiat. 2: 11–23.
Paitich, D. (1964). Attitudes toward parents in male homosexuals and exhibitionists. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Toronto.
Roe, A., and Siegelman, M. (1963). A parent-child relations questionnaire.Child Dev. 34: 355–369.
Roe, A., and Siegelman, M. (1964). The origin of interests.Amer. Personnel Guid. Ass. Inquiry Stud. 1: 1–98.
Scheier, I. H., and Cattell, R. B. (1961).The Neuroticism Scale Questionnaire. Institute for Personality and Ability Testing, Champaign, Ill.
Siegelman, M. (1965). College student personality correlates of early parent-child relationships.J. Consult. Psychol. 29: 558–564.
Siegelman, M. (1972). Adjustment of male homosexuals and heterosexuals.Arch. Sex. Behav. 2: 9–25.
Siegelman, M. (1974). Parental background of male homosexuals.Arch. Sex. Behav. 3: 3–18.
Siegelman, M. (1978). Psychological adjustment of homosexual and heterosexual men: A cross-national replication.Arch. Sex. Behav. 7: 1–11.
Snortum, J. R., Marshall, J. E., Gillespie, J. F., and McLaughlin, J. P. (1969). Family dynamics and homosexuality.Psychol. Rep. 24: 763–770.
Socarides, G. W. (1968).The Overt Homosexual. Grune & Stratton, New York.
Ullman, P. S. (1959). Parental participation in child-rearing as evaluated by male social deviates. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Oregon.
Whitener, R. W., and Nikelly, A. G. (1964). Sexual deviation in college students.J. Amer. Psychoanal. Ass. 10: 386–409.
Wiedeman, G. H. (1962). Survey of psychoanalytic literature on overt male homosexuality.J. Amer. Psychoanal. Ass. 10: 386–409.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Siegelman, M. Parental backgrounds of homosexual and heterosexual men: A cross national replication. Arch Sex Behav 10, 505–513 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541586
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541586