Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

New Sexuality Study Claims That Nobody Is 100% 'Straight'—& the 'Proof' Is in Our Eyes

New Sexuality Study Claims That Nobody Is 100% 'Straight'—& the 'Proof' Is in Our Eyes
mark peterson/Getty Images

The idea that sexuality is a spectrum rather than the variation between two extremes (completely homosexual or heterosexual) isn't a new one. In fact, tools like the Kinsey scale and the human sexuality spectrum, which claim that most people fall somewhere in between 100% gay or straight, have both been widely discussed and, to differing degrees, accepted by the LGBTQ community for years, even if they hadn't been demonstrated with cold hard data... until now.

Researchers at Cornell University recently published a study in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology which claims there's no such thing as a "straight" man or woman.


The team used some interesting methods to gather their data.

Many psychological tests which deal with sexual arousal rely on self-reporting, which can be somewhat unreliable if the test subject has any biases which might skew his or her answers. So, for this study, the researchers decided to measure sexual arousal based on "physical responses" like pupil dilation (human's pupils dilate when they're turned on).

From there, it was a simple matter of showing the test subjects various selections of pornography and taking a close look at their pupil's responses!

Ritch C. Savin-Williams, Director of Developmental Psychology at Cornell University and author of the study, further explained the process to 'Broadly:'

It's basically a study that assesses sexual orientation by looking at the eyes and whether they dilate or not. You can't control your eye dilation. Essentially, that's what the whole project attempts to get at, another way of assessing sexuality without relying on self report. Another way of course is genital arousal, but that gets a little invasive.

The team's results were unexpected!

Women's eyes would dilate when viewing images of a man and woman having sex, or just two women having sex. This was slightly different for lesbians who, like (purportedly heterosexual) men, responded to both sexes, but showed a more prominent preference for women.

Savin-William's also described straight male's responses:

We show straight men a picture of a woman masturbating and they respond just like a straight guy, but then you also show them a guy masturbating and their eyes dilate a little bit. So we're actually able to show physiologically that all guys are not either gay, straight, or bi.

Even among LGBTQ individuals, however, the study has its detractors. Some are skeptical of how effective measuring pupil dilation can be for detecting real sexual attraction.

Though human sexuality is far from completely understood, Savin-Williams is certain a more flexible, spectrum-based understanding of who we're attracted to will make the world a better place:

If you look at women, the self esteem of lesbian women tends to be higher than that of straight women. Maybe they feel like they have more freedom [to be who they really are]. Granted, society may not always like it, but it is your own authentic self.

H/T - The Independent, Broadly

More from News/lgbtq

Screenshot of Jacob Frey
ABC News/KSTP

Minneapolis Mayor Slams 'Thoughts & Prayers' Reaction To School Shooting: 'These Kids Were Literally Praying'

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey had harsh words for politicians who offer "thoughts and prayers" after deadly school shootings after his city became the latest scene of gun violence when a gunman opened fire through the windows of a church on Wednesday morning, killing two children and wounding 17 others during the first week of classes at Annunciation Catholic School.

The FBI identified the shooter as a 23-year-old who was a 2017 graduate of the school. The shooter died at the scene. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said the suspect had posted a “manifesto” on YouTube that contained “disturbing writings.”

Keep ReadingShow less
A man lying on a bed with a woman walking toward him with his le
woman in blue shirt lying on bed
Photo by We-Vibe Toys on Unsplash

People Who Waited Until Marriage To Have Sex Confess Whether They Regret It

When entering a new relationship, a common question that is asked repeatedly is, "How long?"

How long until we introduce them to our friends? How long until we introduce them to our families? How long until this relationship is... consummated?

Keep ReadingShow less
Marc Maron; Dave Chappelle
John Lamparski/Getty Images; Arturo Holmes/Getty Images

Maron slams Netflix for Chappelle pick

Marc Maron isn’t known for holding back, and in a recent Pod Save America interview, he criticized Netflix for their unwavering support of Dave Chappelle. We all remember when Chappelle released his series of specials filled with transphobic “jokes,” which caused a backlash and led Netflix employees to stage a walkout.

Yeah—Netflix did the corporate math real quick, realized Chappelle’s fanbase outweighed the fury, and kept cutting him checks. To Maron, that was the smoking gun.

Keep ReadingShow less
Shot of a pair of hands. A woman's index finger holds a wedding ring.
Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

People Share The Most Bizarre Reasons Why Couples Got Divorced

Not every love story is meant to last forever.

That is just a sad fact.

Keep ReadingShow less

People Describe The Weirdest Household 'Hacks' Their Family Did Growing Up

Every family is different, and let's face it, some of them practice some pretty unusual traditions.

But sometimes we don't realize just how strange a practice in our home is until we either have friends over or grow up and start a life of our own.

Keep ReadingShow less