Situational sexual behavior
Encyclopedia
Situational sexual behavior is sexual behavior
of a kind that is different from what is usual for that person (or from what that person normally exhibits) due to a social environment that permits, encourages, or compels those acts.
For example, people might not have sex with prostitutes
in their home countries, but may do so when they visit other countries, where such activities are legal or ignored by authorities. Other examples are people in prison
, the military
, single sex boarding schools, or other sex-segregated communities, where members of those communities might engage in homosexual behaviors but identify as heterosexual otherwise.
Many people change their sexual behavior depending on the situation or other life experiences. For example, men and women in a university may practice bisexuality
, but only in that environment. Experimentation of this sort is more common among adolescents, both male and female. Some colloquialisms for this trend include "heteroflexible
", "BUG" (Bisexual Until Graduation), or "LUG
" (Lesbian Until Graduation).
A possibly common and transient example of situational sexuality is the person who while self-identifying as heterosexual, will sexually interact with a member of the same sex (or a gay or lesbian self-identified person sexually interacting with a member of the opposite sex). People with this preference are sometimes called vortex bisexuals and some classify them as a species of heteroflexible.
or who have an opposite-sex sexual orientation
(spontaneous attraction). Where actual sex is sought as a result, pseudo-homosexuality is putatively distinguished from homosexuality
in that it may not reflect a desire based on sexual orientation
or honest curiosity. For example, this behavior may be found in restrictive environments, such as prisons or encampments. Where consent is lacking
in these circumstances, sociopathic elements may be manifest.
Due to its somewhat nebulous nature, pseudo-homosexuality may be claimed as a defense by heterosexual men who feel some insecurity or doubt concerning their own masculine role in any area of behavior—sexual, social, or vocational. Anxieties about being homosexual are sometimes interpreted as symbolic reflections of failure in masculine aspiration and competitive defeat in power struggles. In such cases, the true homosexual motivation, if present at all, is very much in abeyance.
The notion of pseudo-homosexuality is important as it provides a possible explanation for homosexual anxieties and fantasies among patients undergoing psychotherapy. It offers an alternative interpretation of fantasies which were earlier understood to be the expression of the repressed homosexual component of our biological innate bisexuality
.
Human sexual behavior
Human sexual activities or human sexual practices or human sexual behavior refers to the manner in which humans experience and express their sexuality. People engage in a variety of sexual acts from time to time, and for a wide variety of reasons...
of a kind that is different from what is usual for that person (or from what that person normally exhibits) due to a social environment that permits, encourages, or compels those acts.
For example, people might not have sex with prostitutes
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
in their home countries, but may do so when they visit other countries, where such activities are legal or ignored by authorities. Other examples are people in prison
Prison sexuality
Prison sexuality deals with sexual relationships between confined individuals or those between a prisoner and a prison employee . Since prisons are separated by gender, most sexual activity is conducted with a same-sex partner, often in contradiction to a person's normal social sexual orientation...
, the military
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
, single sex boarding schools, or other sex-segregated communities, where members of those communities might engage in homosexual behaviors but identify as heterosexual otherwise.
Many people change their sexual behavior depending on the situation or other life experiences. For example, men and women in a university may practice bisexuality
Bisexuality
Bisexuality is sexual behavior or an orientation involving physical or romantic attraction to both males and females, especially with regard to men and women. It is one of the three main classifications of sexual orientation, along with a heterosexual and a homosexual orientation, all a part of the...
, but only in that environment. Experimentation of this sort is more common among adolescents, both male and female. Some colloquialisms for this trend include "heteroflexible
Heteroflexible
Heteroflexibility is a form of a sexual orientation or situational sexual behavior characterized by limited homosexual activity despite a primarily heterosexual sexual orientation that is considered to distinguish it from bisexuality. It has been characterized as "mostly straight"...
", "BUG" (Bisexual Until Graduation), or "LUG
Lesbian until graduation
The LGBT slang terms lesbian until graduation , gay until graduation , and bisexual until graduation are used to describe women primarily of high-school or college age who are assumed to be experimenting with or adopting a temporary lesbian or bisexual identity...
" (Lesbian Until Graduation).
A possibly common and transient example of situational sexuality is the person who while self-identifying as heterosexual, will sexually interact with a member of the same sex (or a gay or lesbian self-identified person sexually interacting with a member of the opposite sex). People with this preference are sometimes called vortex bisexuals and some classify them as a species of heteroflexible.
Pseudo-homosexuality
Pseudo-homosexuality refers to homosexual anxieties, fantasies, or behavior, exhibited by people who self-identify as heterosexualHeterosexuality
Heterosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the opposite sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, heterosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, physical or romantic attractions to persons of the opposite sex";...
or who have an opposite-sex sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
(spontaneous attraction). Where actual sex is sought as a result, pseudo-homosexuality is putatively distinguished from homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
in that it may not reflect a desire based on sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
or honest curiosity. For example, this behavior may be found in restrictive environments, such as prisons or encampments. Where consent is lacking
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
in these circumstances, sociopathic elements may be manifest.
Due to its somewhat nebulous nature, pseudo-homosexuality may be claimed as a defense by heterosexual men who feel some insecurity or doubt concerning their own masculine role in any area of behavior—sexual, social, or vocational. Anxieties about being homosexual are sometimes interpreted as symbolic reflections of failure in masculine aspiration and competitive defeat in power struggles. In such cases, the true homosexual motivation, if present at all, is very much in abeyance.
The notion of pseudo-homosexuality is important as it provides a possible explanation for homosexual anxieties and fantasies among patients undergoing psychotherapy. It offers an alternative interpretation of fantasies which were earlier understood to be the expression of the repressed homosexual component of our biological innate bisexuality
Innate bisexuality
Innate bisexuality is a term introduced by Sigmund Freud , that expounds all humans are born bisexual but through psychological development become monosexual while the bisexuality remains in a latent state.There is no modern scientific consensus as to...
.
See also
- Situational offenderSituational offenderIn criminology the term situational offender is used in several meanings, their common denominator being nontypical character of the offense in question for the person according to some criteria.-General criminology:Following the classical study of Martin R...
- Prison sexualityPrison sexualityPrison sexuality deals with sexual relationships between confined individuals or those between a prisoner and a prison employee . Since prisons are separated by gender, most sexual activity is conducted with a same-sex partner, often in contradiction to a person's normal social sexual orientation...
- Homosexual panicHomosexual panicHomosexual panic is a term, first coined by psychiatrist Edward J. Kempf in 1920, describing an acute, brief reactive psychosis suffered by the target of unwanted homosexual advances. Despite the psychotic nature of the disorder, Kempf called it "acute homosexual panic"...
- Sex tourismSex tourismSex tourism is travel to engage in sexual activity with prostitutes.The World Tourism Organization, a specialized agency of the United Nations, defines sex tourism as "trips organized from within the tourism sector, or from outside this sector but using its structures and networks, with the primary...
External links
- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual Young People and Teenage Pregnancy by Jan Bridget, .rtf format