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?
Asexuality in humans? I have never heard of it, but it could be possible since cells are asexual. Since you start being able to reproduce in teenage years, I believe that perhaps it is a problem with the hormones that start to be attracted to the opposite, or same sex. It may be just that you really don't care about sex at all, not a hormonal defect. I myself don't really care about sex, I don't have physical attractions, but instead more of just being attracted to those friendly. So perhaps it could be a hormonal defect or just the absence of sexual attraction.
I would assume Asexuality is more like, you are attracted to other things than humans.
That would more likely be defined as an "alternative" sexuality, or, if appropriate, a paraphilia (allowing for the fact that the current DSM guidelines for paraphilias are very narrow.)
If asexuality is just not being attracted to anything, you may just be depressed. Most everything we do is for the survival of the species with sex drive as it's basic fuel source.
P.S: Pretty please learn to remember the e in believe? It's irrelevant, but now it's in my eye. X_x *shot*
I'm like that with people spelling our with are. It hurts my head
If asexuality is just not being attracted to anything, you may just be depressed.
That's true. But we don't necessarily have to pidgeonhole asexuality as its own entity if there is no apparent need, though in this case it's not impossible to think of somebody possibly being truly "asexual" or lacking in sexual drive entirely, alien as it may seem.
First off, commonalities in function throughout a species exists as trends, not as rules, as functions are not granted with purpose (that would be putting the cart before the horse). So it would be incorrect to say that we have sex in order to promote the survival of the species as that lands you in a big bunch of rhetorical difficulties.
It must be some sort of disorder. Given the hormones produced during puberty and adolescence it would seem almost impossible to overcome them. Maybe the asexual disorder involves the malfunctioning of the glands and prevents the body from producing hormones.
1) it's real, I think there one of the members of the band placebo is one, but I can't find a link now 2) I think that they can have emotions towards other persons, they have not sexual attraction 3) I don't think that is trauma related, I think that the environment and the person by itself becomes one 4) I don't think it's a mental disorder, it's a social phenomenon
Alright, I raised a topic from the dead. I did, because there is no sense in creating a new topic about it.
Why did I resurrect it? Because it is very possible my original opinions have changed. We now have an actual asexual person that can contribute to the topic.
This is about asexuality in humans, correct? And I am assuming not asexual reproduction...
It is fine, in fact it is similar to homosexuality or heterosexuality as a simple hormone thing (Unless of course for some reason you were castrated, when of course it is not a natural thing...).
I don't think there is any confirmed cause of asexuality. The most common assumptions of causes of asexuality are: a)Hormones, though tests have concluded that their hormone levels are totally normal. b)Genes, there is no confirmed "asexuality gene" c)Trust issues. Lack of trust however does not compulsory lead to asexuality , there are many persons who are not asexual who have fear of relationship.
