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*’sexual orientation’ is an enduring pattern of romantic/sexual attraction (or a combination of these) to persons of the opposite sex/gender, the same sex/gender, or to both sexes or more than 1 ‘gender’*
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These attractions are generally subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality,[1][2] while asexuality (the lack of sexual attraction to others) is sometimes identified as the fourth category.[3][4]
These categories are aspects of the more nuanced nature of sexual identity and terminology.[1]
For example, people may use other labels, such as pansexual or polysexual,[5] or none at all.[1]
According to the American Psychological Association, sexual orientation “also refers to a person’s sense of identity based on those attractions, related behaviors, and membership in a community of others who share those attractions”.[1][6]
Androphilia and gynephilia are terms used in behavioral science to describe sexual orientation as an alternative to a gender binary conceptualization.
Androphilia describes sexual attraction to masculinity;
gynephilia describes the sexual attraction to femininity.[7]
The term sexual preference largely overlaps with sexual orientation, but is generally distinguished in psychological research.[8]
A person who identifies as bisexual, for example, may sexually prefer one sex over the other.[9]
Sexual preference may also suggest a degree of voluntary choice,[8][10][11] whereas the scientific consensus is that sexual orientation is not a choice.[12][13][14]
Scientists do not know the exact cause of sexual orientation, but they theorize that it is caused by a complex interplay of genetic, hormonal, and environmental influences.[12][14][15]
Although no single theory on the cause of sexual orientation has yet gained widespread support, scientists favor biologically-based theories.[12]
There is considerably more evidence supporting nonsocial, biological causes of sexual orientation than social ones, especially for males.[16][17][18]
There is no substantive evidence which suggests parenting or early childhood experiences play a role with regard to sexual orientation.[19]
*research over several decades has demonstrated that sexual orientation ranges along a continuum, from exclusive attraction to the opposite sex to exclusive attraction to the same ‘sex’*
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(‘sexual orientation’ is reported primarily within ‘biology’ + ‘psychology’ (including ‘sexology’), but it is also a subject area in ‘anthropology’ / ‘history’ (including ‘social constructionism’) / ‘law’)
(…and there are other explanations that relate to ‘sexual orientation’ + ‘culture’)
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💕💝💖💓🖤💙🖤💙🖤💙🖤❤️💚💛🧡❣️💞💔💘❣️🧡💛💚❤️🖤💜🖤💙🖤💙🖤💗💖💝💘
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*🌈✨ *TABLE OF CONTENTS* ✨🌷*
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🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥*we won the war* 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥