Abstract
This report summarizes evidence that sexual orientation is familial. Family studies report that homosexual subjects have more homosexual siblings than do heterosexual subjects and more than would be expected given population frequencies. Twin studies find in general a higher concordance in sexual orientation among monozygotic than among dizygotic twins. Evidence for associated psychopathology in homosexual subjects or their relatives is inconclusive. Possible sources of bias in these reports are discussed and a suggestion is offered that family studies should be undertaken in which the sexual orientation of relatives would be directly ascertained by interview.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bene, E. (1965). On the genesis of male homosexuality: An attempt at clarifying the role of the parents.Brit. J. Psychiat. 111: 803–813.
Bieber, I.,et al. (1962).Homosexuality: A Psychonalytic Study. Basic Books, New York.
Climent, C. E., Ervin, F. R., Rollins, A., Plutchik, R., and Batinelli, C. J. (1977). Epidemiological studies of female prisoners. IV. Homosexual behavior.J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 164: 25–29.
Cloninger, C. R., and Guze, S. B. (1970). Psychiatric illness and female criminality: The role of sociopathy and hysteria in the antisocial woman.Amer. J. Psychiat. 127: 303–311.
Cloninger, C. R., and Guze, S. B. (1973). Psychiatric illnesses in the families of female criminals: A study of 288 first-degree relatives.Brit. J. Psychiat. 122: 697–703.
Dank, B. M. (1971). Six homosexual siblings.Arch. Sex. Behav. 1: 193–204.
Davison, K., Brierley, H., and Smith, C. (1971). a male monozygotic twinship discordant for homosexuality.Brit. J. Psychiat. 118: 675–682.
Ellis, H. (1922).Studies in the Psychology of Sex. II. Sexual Inversion. F. A. Davis, Philadelphia.
Evans, R. B. (1969). Childhood parental relationships of homosexual men.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 33: 129–135.
Friedman, R. C., Wollesen, F., and Tendler, R. (1976). Psychological development and blood levels of sex steroids in male identical twins of divergent sexual orientation.J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 163: 282–288.
Gebhard. P. (1972). Incidence of overt homosexuality in the U.S. and Western Europe. In National Institute of Mental Health—Task Force,Homosexuality: Final Report and Background Paper, DHEW Publications No. (HMS) 72–9116.
Green, R., and Stoller, R. J. (1971). Two monozygotic (identical) twin pairs discordant for gender identity.Arch. Sex. Behav. 1: 321–327.
Guze, S. B., Wolfgram, E. D., McKinney, J. K., and Cantwell, D. P. (1967). Psychiatric illness in the families of convicted criminals: A study of 519 first-degree relatives.Dis. Nerv. Syst. 28: 651–659.
Henry, G. W. (1941).Sex Variants: A Study of Homosexual Patterns. Paul B. Hoeber, New York.
Heston, L. L., and Shields, J. (1968). Homosexuality in twins.Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 18: 149–160.
Hoenig, J., and Duggan, E. (1974). Sexual and other abnormalities in the family of a transsexual.Psychiat. Clin. 7: 334–346.
Holemon, R. E., and Winokur, G. (1965). Effeminate homosexuality: A disease of childhood.Amer. J. Orthopsychiat. 35: 48–56.
Hutchinson, G. E. (1959). A speculative consideration of certain possible forms of sexual selection in man.Amer. Naturalist 93: 81–91.
Kallmann, F. J. (1952). Comparative twin study on the genetic aspects of male homosexuality.J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 115: 283–298.
Kenyon, F. E. (1968). Studies in female homosexuality—IV & V.Brit. J. Psychiat. 114: 1337–1350.
Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., and Martin, C. E. (1948).Sexual Behavior in the Human Male. Saunders, Philadelphia.
Kinsey, A. C., Pomeroy, W. B., Martin, C. E., and Gebhard, P. (1953).Sexual Behavior in the Human Female. Saunders, Philadelphia.
Kirsh, J. A. W., and Rodman, J. E. (1977). The natural history of homosexuality.Yale Scientific (Winter): 7–13.
Klintworth, G. K. (1962). A pair of male monozygotic twins discordant for homosexuality.J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 135: 113–125.
Margolese, M. S., and Janiger, O. (1973). Androsterone/etiocholanolone ratios in male homosexuals.Brit. Med. J. 3: 207–210.
Melnick, M., Myrianthopoulos, N. C., and Christian, J. C. (1978). The effects of chorion type on variation in I. Q. in the NCPP twin population.Amer. J. Human Genet. 30: 425–433.
Mesnikoff, A. M., Rainer, J. D., Kolb, L. C., and Carr, A. C. (1963). Intrafamilial determinants of divergent sexual behavior in twins.Amer. J. Psychiat. 119: 732–738.
Moran, P. A. (1972). Familial effects in schizophrenia and homosexuality.Aust. N. Z. J. Psychiat. 6: 116–119.
Parker, N. (1964). Homosexuality in twins: A report on three discordant pairs.Brit. J. Psychiat. 110: 489–495.
Perkins, M. W. (1973). Homosexuality in female monozygotic twins.Behav. Genet. 3: 387–388.
Rainer, J. D., Mesnikoff, A., Kolb, L. C., and Carr, A. (1960). Homosexuality and heterosexuality in identical twins.Psychosom. Med. 22: 251–259.
Saghir, M. T., and Robins, E. (1973).Male and Female Homosexuality Williams & Wilkins, Baltimore.
Taylor, C. C. (1971). Marriages of twins to twins.Acta Genet. Med. Gemmellol. 20: 96–113.
Taylor, M., and Abrams, R. (1973). Manic states. A genetic study of early and late onset affective disorders.Arch. Gen. Psychiat. 28: 656–658.
Weinrich, J. D. (1976). Human reproductive strategy. I. Environmental predictability and reproductive strategy: Effects of social class and race. II. Homosexuality and nonreproduction: Some evolutionary models. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Department of Biology, Harvard University.
Williams, G. C. (1966).Adaptation and Natural Selection: A Critique of Some Current Evolutionary Thought. Princeton University Press, Princeton, N.J.
Wilson, E. O. (1975).Sociobiology: The New Synthesis. Belknap Press, Cambridge.
Winokur, G. (1978). Mania and depression: Family studies and genetics in relation to treatment. In Lipton, M. A., DiMascio, A., and Killam, K. F. (eds.),Psychopharmacology: A Generation of Progress Raven Press, New York.
Zuger, B. (1976). Monozygotic twins discordant for homosexuality: Report of a pair and significance of the phenomenon.Compr. Psychiat. 17: 661–669.
Zuger, B. (1978). A neglected source-book on homosexuality.Brit. J. Psychiat. 133: 87–88.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Supported by NIMH Grants MH32170 and MH15189.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Pillard, R.C., Poumadere, J. & Carretta, R.A. Is homosexuality familial? A review, some data, and a suggestion. Arch Sex Behav 10, 465–475 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541437
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01541437