Latent homosexuality
Latent homosexuality is an erotic inclination toward members of the same sex which is not consciously experienced or expressed in overt action. It was originally proposed by Sigmund Freud. Some argue that the latent homosexuality is a potentially iatrogenic effect.
A theory that homophobia is a result of latent homosexuality was put forth in the late 20th century. A recent study conducted at the University of Georgia by Henry Adams, Lester Wright Jr., and Bethany Lohr indicates that a number of homophobic males suffer from latent homosexuality. The research was done on 35 men who exhibited homophobic traits with 29 men who did not. Three tests were conducted using penile plethysmography. While there was no difference in response when the men were exposed to heterosexual and lesbian pornography, there was a major difference in response when the men were exposed to male homosexual pornography.
The researches reported that 24 percent of the nonhomophobic men, but 54 percent of the subjects who scored high on the homophobia scale showed some degree of tumescence in response to the male homosexual video. In addition, 66 percent of the nonhomophobic group showed no significant increases in tumescence after this video, but only 20 percent of the homophobic men failed to display any arousal. Additionally, when the participants rated their degree of sexual arousal later, the homophobic men significantly underestimated their degree of arousal by the male homosexual video.
Still, researchers disagree about whether the homophobic males were stimulated by genuine latent homosexuality or negative emotions such as anxiety.
Others have suggested that latent homosexuality is a result of one's environment. Living in a homophobic culture, not being exposed to homosexualty, and being surrounded by members of both genders may encourage latent homosexualtiy. Conversely, expossure to a single-gender environment, such as a single-sex school or military service, could bring one's latent homosexuality to the surface.Links to Homophobia
Links to Environment