The study of sexuality is multidisciplinary. Psychologists, sexologists, biologists, theologians, physicians, sociologists, anthropologists, and philosophers all perform sexuality research. The questions each discipline asks and how its practitioners transform those questions into research projects can differ greatly. However, the insights of these disciplines complement each other, and no single approach to the study of sexuality is better than another.
A theory is a set of assumptions, principles, or methods that help a researcher understand the nature of the phenomenon being studied. A theory provides an intellectual structure to help conceptualize, implement, and interpret a topic, such as human sexuality. The majority of researchers begin with theories about human behavior that guide the kind of questions they ask about sexuality. For example, suppose a researcher sub-
Question: When scientists come up with new theories, how do they know they are true?
They don’t. Theories begin as ideas to explain observed phenomena, but must undergo testing and evaluation. Many early theories of sexuality were developed out of work with patients, such as Sigmund Freud’s work, whereas others base their theories on behaviors they observe or the results of experiments they conduct. However, researchers never really know whether their theories are true or not. Some scientists become so biased by their own theories that they have trouble seeing explanations other than their own for certain behaviors. That is why scientific findings or ideas should always be tested and confirmed by other scientists.
scribes to the theory that sexuality is innate and biologically determined; he or she would probably design studies to examine such things as how the hypothalamus in the brain influences our sexual behavior, or the monthly cycle of hormones. It is unlikely he or she would be interested in studying how society influences sexuality. A person who believes sexuality is determined by environmental influences, on the other hand, would be more likely to study how the media influences sexuality rather than genetic patterns of sexual behavior.
There are several theories—often clashing—that guide much of our thinking about sexuality. These include psychological, biological, sociological, and evolutionary theoretical views of human sexuality. In addition, over the last few years, feminist and queer theories have also become important models for exploring and explaining sexual behavior. We will first explore each of these and look at how they influence sexuality research. While we do, however, it is important to remember that many theorists borrow from multiple theoretical perspectives, and that these categories often overlap and learn from each other.