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Sexual preference and altruism
1Department of Psychological Science, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, USA.
Journal of Homosexuality
|January 1, 1995
Summary
Male homosexuals demonstrated higher empathy levels than heterosexuals, supporting the sociobiological model
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Human Sexuality Studies
Background:
- Homosexuality has been explained by various hypotheses.
- The sociobiological model posits evolutionary underpinnings for social behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test the sociobiological model's prediction regarding altruism in male homosexuals.
- To investigate the relationship between sexual orientation and altruistic tendencies.
Main Methods:
- Dichotomized subjects into homosexual (N=76) and heterosexual (N=51) groups based on self-reported data.
- Collected demographic information and administered Hogan's Scale for empathy assessment.
Main Results:
- Homosexual individuals scored significantly higher on empathy assessments compared to heterosexual individuals.
- Empathy is strongly associated with altruistic behavior.
Conclusions:
- The findings support the sociobiological model's prediction of increased altruism in male homosexuals.
- Empathy may play a significant role in the sociobiological explanations of homosexuality.