Study says no person is 100 per cent straight

The Asian Age With Agency Inputs

Life, Health

Study says sexuality is a 'spectrum' and all of us get aroused by men and women.

Contrary to societal promotions of heterosexuality being the ‘norm’, most researchers at Cornell University found most people get aroused by both genders. (Photo: AFP)

A new study now reveals that strictly heterosexual people do not exist at all. According to a psychologist more and more men nowadays are better defined as 'mostly straight'.

Contrary to societal promotions of heterosexuality being the ‘norm’, most researchers at Cornell University found most people get aroused by both genders.

The paper brings into question strict definitions of sexuality, and says that instead of categories we should see it as a spectrum.

According to lead author Ritch C Savin-Williams, a psychologist specializing in gender studies, people still struggle with the concept of bisexuality - particularly when it comes to men.

According to Savin-Williams' new book Mostly Straight: Sexual Fluidity Among Men, younger generations are increasingly open to 'looser boundaries'.

The book furthers the study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, where Savin-Williams examined volunteers who identified as either male or female.

The study showed them each porn involving men, and porn involving women, and measured the dilation of their pupils - an indicator of sexual arousal.

Women's eyes dilated watching men with women, and watching women with women and men's eyes dilated watching women masturbate, and watching men masturbate - regardless of their stated sexual preference.

Talking to Broadly, he said that while it was earlier believed that bisexuality was only a female phenomenon, his research assessing both men and women shows that is hardly the case.

In a previous study, Savin-Williams found between two and 11 percent of adults had reported experiencing homosexual feelings. However, he believes that figure woefully understates the fluidity of sexual arousal among all people.  

Read more...

Related: