NationStates Jolt Archive

To what extent do you beleive a persons views on homosexuality are determined by their parents/upbringing? Discuss.

To what extent do you beleive a persons views on homosexuality are determined by their parents/upbringing? Discuss.

The way they're brought up - by parents, siblings, peers and churches/schools - to view 'different' people in general and gay folk specifically will determine a person's initial views on homosexuality. These views might conceivably change under different experiences, but that's where they'll _start_ at!

While there probably is some extent of non-taught homophobia (just like many other phobias aren't taught by parents), for said homophobia to become "views" (or views to exist independent of homophobia) there usually has to be some sort of indoctrination, usually from one's parents.

You realize that homophobia isn't used in the normal sense of phobia, as most homophobes aren't actually scared of gay people, they just hate them.

You realize that homophobia isn't used in the normal sense of phobia, as most homophobes aren't actually scared of gay people, they just hate them.

In my view the term is misused, as real phobic-style homophobia certainly exists. The extension of the term to anyone opposed to gays for any reason really muddies the issue.

To what extent do you beleive a persons views on homosexuality are determined by their parents/upbringing? Discuss.
It depends upon whether they can think things through for themselves. I was raised in Tennessee by very traditional grandparents, and grew up going to a Christian fundamentalist church. Yet today, I believe that homosexuals are just people trying to get along as best they know how just like the rest of us. Does that help? :)

To some degree. Friends also have a big influence. I know my mother has no problem with people being gay, as long as it isn't one of her kids. I have no problem with anyone being gay. If one of my kids told me that he/she was gay, I'd throw them a 'coming out' party to show that I was really OK with it.

All hate is taught.

All hate is taught.

I'll agree to a degree. But where was this hate originally born? Wh do Christians hate Jews? Why do white people hate black people? Why does everyone hate communism?

To what extent do you beleive a persons views on homosexuality are determined by their parents/upbringing? Discuss.
Probably to the same extent that other views are passed down. I try not to let my views on various subjects get "taught" to my kids, I would rather them come up with their own conclusions. It really bothers me for example that my husband is deathly afraid of spiders and can't really pinpoint why other than everyone else in his family is too. It seems weird to me to have a phobia based on what "everyone else is afraid of" and he agrees but can't shake the fear either. I don't want my kids to have a view about something just because "that's the way mom said it was".

Probably to the same extent that other views are passed down. I try not to let my views on various subjects get "taught" to my kids, I would rather them come up with their own conclusions. It really bothers me for example that my husband is deathly afraid of spiders and can't really pinpoint why other than everyone else in his family is too. It seems weird to me to have a phobia based on what "everyone else is afraid of" and he agrees but can't shake the fear either. I don't want my kids to have a view about something just because "that's the way mom said it was".

Arachnophobia (real arachnophobia anyway), probably isn't the sort of thing that can be taught like that. It could have some sort of genetic basis, but I don't think someone can actually become deathly afraid of spiders just because their parents told them to.

Arachnophobia (real arachnophobia anyway), probably isn't the sort of thing that can be taught like that. It could have some sort of genetic basis, but I don't think someone can actually become deathly afraid of spiders just because their parents told them to.
I didn't know that. He is very afraid, once I was out of town and he saw a spider in the front bathroom and he just didn't go back in there until I was home and "spider checked it" that was like 3 days. He can't even stand to see the spider body after I kill it. It's weird to me because he isn't afraid of anything else, things you should (imo) be afraid of, like wild boars, snakes, drunk red necks with guns, scorpions, ect.

I'll agree to a degree. But where was this hate originally born? Wh do Christians hate Jews? Why do white people hate black people? Why does everyone hate communism?

Fear.
All hate basically stems from some form of fear, it can be fear of the unknown, it can be fear of something that's different, and it can be fear that somebody else is getting a bigger piece of cake, commonly referred to as envy.

And not everyone hates communism ;)

Arachnophobia (real arachnophobia anyway), probably isn't the sort of thing that can be taught like that. It could have some sort of genetic basis, but I don't think someone can actually become deathly afraid of spiders just because their parents told them to.

Actually, it can. I'm one good example for that one....
I remember a time when I was not afraid of spiders. I didn't regard them as any different from all other insects, and spending part of my early childhood on a farm in Austria brought me into contact with a lot of different species of arachnoids.
And then I met my best friend. She can get hysterical at the mere sight of crudely drawn picture of a spider. We were both in kindergarden at the time, a group of giggling girls, and hysterics have a way of spreading. When one screams, all scream.
And after a while I found myself suddenly really scared of spiders. Not as bad as my friend, but still....

Well, my parents are complete bigots and I've been out with a guy before, so I don't reckon it has that much influence.:p

I'll agree to a degree. But where was this hate originally born? Wh do Christians hate Jews? Why do white people hate black people? Why does everyone hate communism?

I would agree that all hatred is taught/developed, however there may be a predeliction (is that the right word) for people of different Races to feel aprehensive to each other or to certain Facial Features (beards, monobrows Grey Eyes etc.) as part of the sexual attration part, as to sexuality, that is a nurtured hatred same as sexual choice is developed through growth.

Where did you get the idea that everyone hates communism...

I would agree that all hatred is taught/developed, however there may be a predeliction (is that the right word) for people of different Races to feel aprehensive to each other or to certain Facial Features (beards, monobrows Grey Eyes etc.) as part of the sexual attration part, as to sexuality, that is a nurtured hatred same as sexual choice is developed through growth.

Where did you get the idea that everyone hates communism...

We don't like strangers/'different' people, it's a natural part of our socialisation (goinig right back to when they might fight off our males, kill the young, and carry away the females!); but there's no genetic component of racism, it's just how you're brought up (and not just by your parents) and what your own experiences are.

'The stranger' varies so much - and seldom in terms of race, it would be far more likely that he looks a little like you, but his tattoos might be green instead of blue, they might shave their heads, wear bear claws instead of eagle feathers etc etc - that having a genetic visual imprint of who-to-avoid would be totally counterproductive.