• What do we mean by a typology? How can a typology be used to understand homosexuality?
• What did Kinsey focus on in understanding homosexuality? Describe his unidimensional continuum.
• How does Storms conceptualize homosexuality? Describe his two dimensional continuum.
• What are the two categories of theories which attempt to explain how homosexuality develops. How do they tie into the nature/nurture debate?
• What are some of the biological explanations for homosexuality? Which are supported by research and which are not?
• What are some of the environmental explanations for homosexuality? Which are supported by research and which are not?
• Describe the following theories explaining homosexuality:
• Adult Hormonal Influence
• Prenatal Hormonal Influence
• Brain Differences
• Genetics
• Freud’s
• Bieber’s
• Behaviorism
• Storm’s Interactionist Theory
• Sociological Theory.
• What did Bell, Weinberg and Hammersmith conclude when they compared the environmental theories by studying gays, lesbians, and heterosexuals in lengthy interviews?
• Compare and contrast covert versus overt homosexuals.
• What does “coming out” mean?
• What are the 5 types of relationships gays and lesbians have according to Bell and Weinberg? Describe them. How do they compare with the types of relationships that heterosexuals have?
• What are the 6 stages gay couples in long monogamous relationships pass through according to Mattison and McWhirter? Describe them. How do they compare with stages in heterosexual relationships?
• What are gay bars? gay baths? What are their functions?
• What is Humprey’s Tearoom Trade Study? What were the findings? What were some ethical problems with the study?
• What is homophobia? Why can the United States be called a homophobic society? What are some of the beliefs that people in the US have about homosexuals?
• What are 4 stereotypes of gays and lesbians that we discussed in class? Are they true? Why or why not?
• Does the American Psychological Association (APA) consider homosexuality a mental illness? Why or why not?
• Is there therapy to change someone’s sexual orientation? Is it successful? Should it be done? Always? Sometimes? Under what circumstances?
• What are some beliefs of homosexuality from a historical view? from a current, but cross-cultural view? How do other countries compare to the US in their attitudes about homosexuality?

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