I was watching something on National Geographic the other day and something about asexuals came up. I was a bit intrigued, but they did not go into as much detail as I wanted. I figured that sense we have a good group of discussioners (just made that word up), then we could all learn something.
What is Asexuality?
Wikipedia says: Asexuality describes individuals who do not experience sexual attraction and is considered by some to be a sexual orientation.[1] Asexuality as a human sexual orientation has only been recognized and defined in a few academic studies since the late 1970s, and a community of self-identified asexuals has only coalesced since the start of the 21st century, aided by the widening popularity of online communities.[1] One commonly cited study placed the incidence rate of asexuality at 1%.[2] Asexuality is not the same as celibacy, which is the deliberate abstention from sexual activity; many asexuals do have sex,[3] and most celibates are not asexual.
How does this fit into the Kinsey Sexuality Scale?
Alfred Kinsey was aware of an asexual element in the population but did little to investigate it. His Kinsey scale of sexual orientation consisted of a single axis lying between heterosexuality and homosexuality with bisexuality in between, and thus left no place for asexuality. In the Kinsey Reports of 1948 and 1953, subjects were scaled from 0 (completely heterosexual) to 6 (completely homosexual), but a separate category of X was created for those with "no socio-sexual contacts or reactions".[4][5] He labeled 1.5% of the adult male population as "X"
Questions
1. Is asexuality even real? I am skeptical. I don't see how one could be asexual given the hormones we all have.
2. Do you think it is purely sexual or does it involve romantic notions?
3. Given that it is real and does exist, could it be a result of a trauma?
4. Would you classify this as a mental disorder given the fact that their body has the right hormones, etc?
or perhaps a de-evolutionary stage. maybe asexuals have regressed back into a more primal sense, where sexuality has no meaning.
There really isn't such a thing as de-evolution.
Avorne Do you have a hormonal imbalance? Or perhaps not even go through puberty? (as in a teenager or older but still nothing. I ask because I have heard of people having no sexual desire because of this.
My hypothesis is that, barring sexual trauma at a developmental stage, there would most likely be an under developed or possibly even enlarged portion of the brain, particularly the pons.
Asexuality can be defined as a lifelong lack of sexual attraction. Empirical research on asexuality reveals significantly lower self-reported sexual desire and arousal and lower rates of sexual activity; however, the speculation that there may also be an impaired psychophysiological sexual arousal response has never been tested. The aim of this study was to compare genital (vaginal pulse amplitude; VPA) and subjective sexual arousal in asexual and non-asexual women. Thirty-eight women between the ages of 19 and 55 years (10 heterosexual, 10 bisexual, 11 homosexual, and 7 asexual) viewed neutral and erotic audiovisual stimuli while VPA and self-reported sexual arousal and affect were measured. There were no significant group differences in the increased VPA and self-reported sexual arousal response to the erotic film between the groups. Asexuals showed significantly less positive affect, sensuality-sexual attraction, and self-reported autonomic arousal to the erotic film compared to the other groups; however, there were no group differences in negative affect or anxiety. Genital-subjective sexual arousal concordance was significantly positive for the asexual women and non-significant for the other three groups, suggesting higher levels of interoceptive awareness among asexuals. Taken together, the findings suggest normal subjective and physiological sexual arousal capacity in asexual women and challenge the view that asexuality should be characterized as a sexual dysfunction.
I remember seeing that piece of I Research a while back - it's quite interesting. Anyway, on reflection, I've begun to view my asexuality in a positive light. It's not like I'm essential for the continuation of the gene pool and without any worries about finding a wife or husband then I can live me life how I want to.
Interestingly enough Mage, the findings of that study would be consistent with a reduced capacity in the pons area of the brain. This area deals more with instinctual urges and responses, more akin to visual stimulation, while direct stimulation of the organs would largely bypass the pons and deal with the rear area of the brain stem. I think that would be a viable and logical explanation of the lack, or overactivity, of sexual impulse.
Really Avorne, there is nothing which equates a lack of sexual impulse to an inability for a relationship, or even procreation. Your organs should work just fine and if you so desire I doubt that it would be terribly difficult for you to be able to engage in sexual activity. The only thing that seems to be different is that you have a reduced psychological drive, but that has no bearing on your physical capabilities.
@ avorne: It must be good to never be tied down with the need to procreate. constant distractions.............. i'm sorry what was I saying? but seriously.
