Klein grid Human sexuality
Sexual identity
Binary gender system
Egodystonic orientation
Romantic orientation
Biology and sexual orientation
Sexual orientation statistics
Situational sexual behavior
Sexual behavior of animals
Paraphilia Bestiality

Heterosexuality(from Greek έτερος - other + lat. sexus- gender) - emotional, romantic (platonic), erotic (sensual) or sexual attraction to persons of the opposite sex; sexual interest in persons of the opposite sex and erotic orientation towards them; erotic focus on an object of the opposite sex; preference for sexual partners of the opposite sex; the direction of a person's sexual attraction to people of the opposite sex.

Heterosexuality is common to most people and bisexual animals.

Basic concepts and terms

The term “heterosexuality” in a close to modern meaning of “attraction to the opposite sex” was first proposed by Richard Krafft-Ebing in the book “Sexual Psychopathy” (). Krafft-Ebing believed that heterosexuality is an innate instinct aimed at procreation.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the term was also used in meanings different from the modern one. So, in 1892, Chicago psychiatrist James Kiernan used this word to designate a mental disorder - “mental hermaphroditism.”

Heterosexuality is, in a broad sense, a phenomenon of human sexuality that includes or may include heterosexual orientation, heterosexual identity and/or heterosexual behavior.

Heterosexual orientation is characteristic of the majority of the world's population.

Heterosexuality is associated with procreation: vaginal sex is biologically aimed at conception.

The term “heterosexual” is used to designate people of heterosexual orientation; in colloquial speech the word “straight” is also used. natural- natural, natural). The outdated expression "normal orientation" implies that heterosexual relationships are the norm, and their alternatives are deviations from this norm. Modern science considers all three sexual orientations as normal and positive varieties of human sexual orientations. The system of ideas according to which heterosexuality is considered as the only natural and morally and socially acceptable form of human sexuality is called heterosexism.

Due to the polysemy of the term “heterosexuality,” it has recently become common to use clarifying or narrower terms, for example, to talk about heterosexual orientation or heterosexual behavior, about heterosexuality in general (as a phenomenon) or about heterosexuality as a point on the “sexuality” subscale of the scale Kinsey - except in situations where the meaning of the term "heterosexuality" is clear from the context.

Heterosexual behavior

Heterosexual behavior occurs in the following forms: premarital sex, marital sex, alternative forms of marriage (for example, triads), extramarital sex, sex between people who are not married.

Sexual technique of heterosexuals

For a long period, society was dominated by the idea of ​​vaginal sex as the only normal way of sexual relations. The twentieth century is characterized by a decline in the reproductive imperative and an increase in social acceptance of sex as a means of obtaining pleasure, regardless of the purposes of conception. In this regard, non-vaginal forms of sexual relations began to be considered normal.

The forms of heterosexual sexual relations are diverse. In particular, the sexual technique of heterosexuals is largely determined by the individual preferences of the partners, the choice of technique that satisfies both.

Sexual techniques include: love games and caresses, genital stimulation, copulation or coitus, oral-genital sex, anal sex and others. Lovemaking usually refers to any activity other than direct sexual intercourse. The term "foreplay" is also used. Through caresses, partners communicate their readiness for sex and give each other sensual pleasure. Caresses consist of touching hands and kissing.

Preferred genital caresses vary from person to person. They are performed manually or orally (fellatio and cunnilingus). The main criterion of heterosexuality is often called sexual intercourse, in which the penis is inserted into the vagina, that is, coitus. There are many variations of coitus (man on top, face to face; woman on top; insertion from behind; side by side, and others). Some heterosexual partners also practice anal sex.

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Notes

1. Psychology. AND I. Dictionary reference / Transl. from English K. S. Tkachenko. - M.: FAIR PRESS. Mike Cordwell. 2000.
2. Psychoanalytic terms and concepts Dictionary. Ed. Borness E. Moore and Bernard D. Fine.
3. Leibin V. Dictionary-reference book on psychoanalysis, 2010.
4. Dictionary of natural sciences. Glossary.ru
5. Dawkins, Richard. Chapter 5. The roots of religion // God as an illusion = The God Delusion / trans. from English N. Smelkova. - St. Petersburg. : ABC, ABC-Atticus, 2014. - P. 211. - 512 p. - (ABC-classics). - 3000 copies.
6. - ISBN 978-5-389-05381-6.
7. Richard von Krafft-Ebing.
8. Jonathan Ned Katz
10. :
11. Dr. James G. Kiernan. "Responsibility in Sexual Perversion". Chicago Medical Recorder, vol. 3 (May 1892): 185-210.
12. American Psychiatric Association.
13. Sexual orientation // / Ed. N.D. Tvorogova. - M.: PER SE, 2007. - 416 p. - (Psychological Lexicon. Encyclopedic Dictionary in six volumes / Edited by L. A. Karpenko. Under the general editorship of A. V. Petrovsky).
15. // American Psychiatric Association
16. // American Psychological Association
17. // Australian Psychological Society
18. // American Psychological Association
19. // American Psychological Association
20. Masters W., Johnson W., Kolodny R.

Literature

• / Ed. N. D. Tvorogova. - M.: PER SE, 2007. - 416 p. - (Psychological Lexicon. Encyclopedic Dictionary in six volumes / Edited by L. A. Karpenko. Under the general editorship of A. V. Petrovsky).

Excerpt characterizing Heterosexuality

– Life doesn’t leave you alone anyway. I would be glad to do nothing, but, on the one hand, the nobility here awarded me the honor of being elected leader: I got away with violence. They could not understand that I did not have what was needed, that I did not have that well-known good-natured and concerned vulgarity that was needed for this. Then there was this house that had to be built in order to have our own corner where we could be calm. Now the militia.
– Why don’t you serve in the army?
- After Austerlitz! - Prince Andrey said gloomily. - No; I humbly thank you, I promised myself that I would not serve in the active Russian army. And I wouldn’t, if Bonaparte had stood here, near Smolensk, threatening the Bald Mountains, and then I wouldn’t have served in the Russian army. Well, that’s what I told you,” Prince Andrei continued, calming down. - Now the militia, father is the commander-in-chief of the 3rd district, and the only way for me to get rid of service is to be with him.
- So you are serving?
- I serve. – He was silent for a moment.
- So why do you serve?
- But why? My father is one of the most remarkable people of his century. But he is getting old, and he is not only cruel, but he is too active. He is terrible for his habit of unlimited power, and now this power given by the Sovereign to the commander-in-chief over the militia. If I had been two hours late two weeks ago, he would have hanged the protocol officer in Yukhnov,” said Prince Andrei with a smile; - this is how I serve because no one except me has influence on my father, and in some places I will save him from an act from which he would suffer later.
- Oh, well, you see!
“Yes, mais ce n"est pas comme vous l"entendez, [but this is not the way you understand it],” continued Prince Andrei. “I did not and do not wish the slightest good to this bastard protocol officer who stole some boots from the militia; I would even be very pleased to see him hanged, but I feel sorry for my father, that is, again for myself.
Prince Andrei became more and more animated. His eyes sparkled feverishly as he tried to prove to Pierre that his actions never contained a desire for good to his neighbor.
“Well, you want to free the peasants,” he continued. - This is very good; but not for you (you, I think, did not detect anyone and did not send them to Siberia), and even less for the peasants. If they are beaten, flogged, sent to Siberia, then I think that it is no worse for them. In Siberia he leads the same bestial life, and the scars on his body will heal, and he is as happy as he was before. And this is needed for those people who are perishing morally, making repentance for themselves, suppressing this repentance and becoming rude because they have the opportunity to execute right or wrong. This is who I feel sorry for, and for whom I would like to free the peasants. You may not have seen it, but I have seen how good people, brought up in these traditions of unlimited power, over the years, when they become more irritable, become cruel, rude, know it, cannot resist and become more and more unhappy. “Prince Andrei said this with such enthusiasm that Pierre involuntarily thought that these thoughts were suggested to Andrei by his father. He didn't answer him.
- So this is who I feel sorry for - human dignity, peace of conscience, purity, and not their backs and foreheads, which, no matter how much you cut, no matter how much you shave, will still remain the same backs and foreheads.
“No, no, and a thousand times no, I will never agree with you,” said Pierre.

In the evening, Prince Andrei and Pierre got into a carriage and drove to Bald Mountains. Prince Andrei, glancing at Pierre, occasionally broke the silence with speeches that proved that he was in a good mood.
He told him, pointing to the fields, about his economic improvements.
Pierre was gloomily silent, answering in monosyllables, and seemed lost in his thoughts.
Pierre thought that Prince Andrei was unhappy, that he was mistaken, that he did not know the true light, and that Pierre should come to his aid, enlighten him and lift him up. But as soon as Pierre figured out how and what he would say, he had a presentiment that Prince Andrei with one word, one argument would destroy everything in his teaching, and he was afraid to start, afraid to expose his beloved shrine to the possibility of ridicule.
“No, why do you think,” Pierre suddenly began, lowering his head and taking on the appearance of a butting bull, why do you think so? You shouldn't think like that.
- What am I thinking about? – Prince Andrei asked in surprise.
– About life, about the purpose of a person. It can't be. I thought the same thing and it saved me, you know what? Freemasonry No, don't smile. Freemasonry is not a religious, not a ritual sect, as I thought, but Freemasonry is the best, the only expression of the best, eternal sides of humanity. - And he began to explain Freemasonry to Prince Andrey, as he understood it.
He said that Freemasonry is the teaching of Christianity, freed from state and religious shackles; teachings of equality, brotherhood and love.
– Only our holy brotherhood has real meaning in life; “everything else is a dream,” said Pierre. “You understand, my friend, that outside of this union everything is full of lies and untruths, and I agree with you that an intelligent and kind person has no choice but to live out his life, like you, trying only not to interfere with others.” But assimilate our basic beliefs, join our brotherhood, give yourself to us, let us guide you, and now you will feel, as I did, part of this huge, invisible chain, the beginning of which is hidden in the heavens,” said Pierre.
Prince Andrey, silently, looking ahead, listened to Pierre's speech. Several times, unable to hear from the noise of the stroller, he repeated the unheard words from Pierre. By the special sparkle that lit up in the eyes of Prince Andrei, and by his silence, Pierre saw that his words were not in vain, that Prince Andrei would not interrupt him and would not laugh at his words.
They arrived at a flooded river, which they had to cross by ferry. While the carriage and horses were being installed, they went to the ferry.
Prince Andrei, leaning on the railing, silently looked along the flood glittering from the setting sun.
- Well, what do you think about this? - asked Pierre, - why are you silent?
- What I think? I listened to you. “It’s all true,” said Prince Andrei. “But you say: join our brotherhood, and we will show you the purpose of life and the purpose of man, and the laws that govern the world.” Who are we, people? Why do you know everything? Why am I the only one who doesn’t see what you see? You see the kingdom of goodness and truth on earth, but I don’t see it.
Pierre interrupted him. – Do you believe in a future life? - he asked.
- To the future life? – Prince Andrei repeated, but Pierre did not give him time to answer and took this repetition as a denial, especially since he knew Prince Andrei’s previous atheistic beliefs.
– You say that you cannot see the kingdom of goodness and truth on earth. And I have not seen him and he cannot be seen if we look at our life as the end of everything. On earth, precisely on this earth (Pierre pointed into the field), there is no truth - everything is lies and evil; but in the world, in the whole world, there is a kingdom of truth, and we are now children of the earth, and forever children of the whole world. Don't I feel in my soul that I am part of this huge, harmonious whole. Don’t I feel that I am in this huge countless number of beings in which the Divinity is manifested - the highest power, as you like - that I constitute one link, one step from lower beings to higher ones. If I see, clearly see this staircase that leads from a plant to a person, then why should I assume that this staircase breaks with me, and does not lead further and further. I feel that not only can I not disappear, just as nothing disappears in the world, but that I will always be and always have been. I feel that besides me there are spirits living above me and that there is truth in this world.
“Yes, this is Herder’s teaching,” said Prince Andrei, “but that, my soul, is not what convinces me, but life and death, that’s what convinces me.” What is convincing is that you see a being dear to you, who is connected with you, before whom you were guilty and hoped to justify yourself (Prince Andrei’s voice trembled and turned away) and suddenly this being suffers, is tormented and ceases to be... Why? It cannot be that there is no answer! And I believe that he is... That’s what convinces, that’s what convinced me,” said Prince Andrei.
“Well, yes, well,” said Pierre, “isn’t that what I’m saying!”
- No. I’m only saying that it’s not arguments that convince you of the need for a future life, but when you walk in life hand in hand with a person, and suddenly this person disappears out there into nowhere, and you yourself stop in front of this abyss and look into it. And, I looked...

Psychosexual love for the other sex, a sexual orientation present in the vast majority of people. The opposite orientation is homosexuality, which is held by a minority. From the point of view of sexology, heterosexuality and homosexuality are equal options for human sexuality. A person cannot choose or suppress his sexual orientation by force of will; Everyone should have the right to live according to their orientation without being subject to any discrimination. Heterosexuality and homosexuality have, on the one hand, their real manifestations in the form of sexual contacts between a man and a woman, between a woman and a woman, between a man and a man, as well as related moods, preferences and lifestyles. On the other hand, we are talking about theoretical constructs that do not satisfy all types of sexual behavior of men and women. In the erotic system, in which the coordinates of homosexuality and heterosexuality are indicated on one scale, and sexual activity (intensity) on the other, numerous patterns of behavior are possible. To this should be added a time dimension, depending on the corresponding society and on the life path of a particular person, during which the strict homo- or heterosexual order may be interrupted. Crucial to homosexual or heterosexual behavior, especially male and female homosexuality, is how sexual relationships are formed in society and how gender roles are distributed.
(See Heterosexuality, Bisexuality, Homosexuality).

(Source: Sexological Dictionary)

(Source: Dictionary of Sexual Terms)

preference for sexual partners of the opposite sex; manifests itself in appropriate behavior

(Source: Concise Dictionary of Sexopathological Terms)

Synonyms:

See what “Heterosexuality” is in other dictionaries:

Noun, number of synonyms: 2 attraction (56) heterosexuality (2) ASIS Dictionary of Synonyms. V.N. Trishin. 2013… Synonym dictionary

Heterosexuality- Sexual attraction to people of the opposite sex. Psychology. A Ya. Dictionary reference book / Transl. from English K. S. Tkachenko. M.: FAIR PRESS. Mike Cordwell. 2000... Great psychological encyclopedia

Heterosexual couple expecting a child Sexual orientation Section se... Wikipedia

HETEROSEXUALITY- (heterosexuality) 1. (General meaning) the desire for sexual relations with people of the opposite or opposite sex. 2. (Sociological meaning) the privileged and dominant expression of sexuality in most prominent societies, often regarded as... ... Large explanatory sociological dictionary

Heterosexuality- 1. Sexual orientation in the behavior and feelings of an individual towards persons of the opposite sex (Giddens). 2. In sociology, the privileged and dominant expression of sexuality, often regarded as the natural form of human sexual... ... Gender Studies Terms

HETEROSEXUALITY- (heterosexuality) erotic attraction to members of the opposite sex. Heterosexuality can contain manifestations of both normal and perverted forms of sexual activity. Heterosexual. Heterosexual... ... Explanatory dictionary of medicine

“Homo-” and “hetero-” are words that we often hear in everyday life, but we don’t even think about their meaning. Let's remember the origins of these terms. "Hetero-" - what does it mean? Nowadays, this is what people with traditional sexual orientation are called.

Is "hetero" a type of sexual preference?

What does "hetero-" mean? Many people know that this word has been known since the days of Ancient Greece. Literally it means: “different”, “other”, “different from”, “not the same”. "Homo-" means "similar", "same". In medicine, the terms “homozygotes” and “heterozygotes” are known, which means identical or, conversely, different diploid organisms whose gene alleles have the same or, conversely, different sets of genes. In this regard, there is the concept of purity of species. The human body is heterozygous by nature. Its genes have alleles in which each pair of chromosomes is opposite in the information they contain. This is directly related to the evolutionary process of development of the entire species. Thanks to historical development and improvement, man has reached a high level and carries within himself a huge supply of genetic information. Nowadays, this word is given a completely different meaning. Now the word “hetero” is an abbreviation for the term “heterosexuality,” which means attraction to people of the opposite sex. Heterosexuals are people who have the ability to continue their race in the process of attraction and courtship for the opposite sex.

Public opinion

A heterosexual is an ordinary person who is attracted to the opposite sex. Seventy percent of people believe that hetero is not just a choice of sexual orientation, but the only correct model of behavior allowed by nature. In fact, homosexuality is registered at the genetic level in all species of animals and humans in the form. This model is also natural and manifests itself as a result of deviation from However, heterosexuals should not be considered healthy and homosexuals sick. This is not a disease and there is no cure for it.

Attitude of psychologists

Hetero - what is it? On the one hand, behavior in society, on the other, a phenomenon inherent in the vast majority of individuals on the planet. Many experts in the field of psychology believe that hetero behavior is the norm, that it is a correct phenomenon due to the presence of procreation instincts. Heterosexuality, in their understanding, is a certain phenomenon of the manifestation of human sexuality, including certain behavior and heterosexual identity. Many people are accustomed to consider themselves correct, to behave as society desires, and thus express a desire to follow the choice of the majority. The same thing happens in the process of upbringing: a child who observes heterosexual relationships in the family wants to have the same family in the future. If, in the process of learning about the world, a child does not see the love of his parents, harmony in the family, or normal human relationships, this can lead to psychological trauma. In this case, we are talking about the conclusions that a child can make, which can subsequently lead him to an excellent lifestyle and search for a partner with an identical orientation.

What is the norm?

Norms of behavior in society are dictated by the choices of the majority of individuals. "Hetero" - what is it? This is how people designate the norm of behavior that is dominant on the planet. Although our society is undergoing changes, and homosexuality has become quite common, despite this, it will remain a recessive phenomenon, since individuals with this orientation are not able to interbreed with each other. Thus, heterosexual orientation will remain the norm of behavior for any species for a long time.

In our society, it is generally accepted that hetero is correct. Any other sexual orientation, homo or bi, is strictly condemned by both representatives of religious faiths and ordinary people. After all, the main mission of humanity is to actively reproduce and continue the human race. And only the relationship between a man and a woman can ensure the birth of offspring.

Meaning of the term

It was proposed to be used by the famous psychologist Richard von Krafft-Ebing. The scientist’s book “Sexual Psychopathy,” which saw the world in 1886, conveyed to a wide audience the essence of heterosexuality and its main purpose. According to the specialist, this is an innate instinct, the main goal of which is procreation. By the way, the word itself consists of two parts: translated from Greek hetero means “other.” In a word, the term means platonic, emotional, love, sexual and other attraction to persons of the opposite sex.

Heterosexual relationships are considered normal among the animal and human worlds. When a man and woman are attracted to each other, it is supported and praised. At the state level, special programs are being created to help young people build families and have numerous offspring. It would not occur to any person to hide or hide if he is hetero. This is considered the only correct orientation from both a physiological and mental point of view.

Heterosexuality and other orientations

People who have relationships with members of the opposite sex are called straight. Or heterosexuals. Their sexual orientation fits within the framework of morality and refers to the concept of the norm. All other types of love games are usually considered deviations. First of all, we are talking about homosexuals who prefer sex with their own kind, or bisexuals who are attracted to both members of their own sex and to individuals of the opposite sex.

Some modern researchers who support the democratic tendencies of the West classify all three orientations as natural and positive. In their opinion, any manifestation of human love is a normal and natural process. After all, the object of feelings is not as important as they themselves. Although the vast majority of specialists in Russia are skeptical about such a bold statement. They are sure that departure from heterosexuals is a biological or mental deviation. In the first case, the basis is considered to be a violation at the genetic level or in the functioning of brain structures, in the second - a problematic childhood and improper upbringing.

Formation of sexual orientation

It occurs in early childhood, when a boy or girl begins to identify himself with one gender or another, while feeling interest in the opposite or his own. For example, a young man feels a craving for delicate creatures in lace dresses and bows, feeling embarrassment, attraction, fear, and curiosity at the sight of them. In a word, this is a normal process of excitement experienced in the presence of a desired object. By the way, even at such a young age it has sexual overtones. If a boy is interested in representatives of his gender, on a subconscious level he is drawn to his own kind, trying to once again experience physical and spiritual intimacy: to touch a friend or spend more time in his company.

Biologist Alfred Kinsey was confident that human attraction can be represented as a continuum, at one end of which there is hetero sexual orientation, at the other - pure homosexuality, and in the middle - bisexuality, expressed to one degree or another. At the same time, he argued that the choice does not depend on the person. The question of the origin and direction of attraction still remains controversial. For those people who doubt their preferences, the specialist recommended taking a test for heterosexuality in a laboratory setting.

Sexuality in ancient times

Since the word “hetero” has Greek roots, when we pronounce it we immediately remember Ancient Hellas. Sculptures of that time, made in the form of naked people with their genitals exposed, indicate that in ancient times humanity had a cult of sexuality. There is an opinion that most of their ancestors led a depraved lifestyle, drawing pleasure exclusively from homosexual relationships.

In fact, in ancient times, most people were bisexual. Respectable fathers of families cared about procreation, so they married ordinary girls and lived an active sex life with them. But for a change, out of curiosity or for other reasons, they did not hesitate to have intimate relationships with men. This position was popular not only in Greece in the Ancient era, but also in many other countries at different times. It’s just that it was in Hellas that homo and bisexuality were not persecuted, which is why so many legends and works of art have survived to this day that they promote not entirely traditional relationships.

Why is heterosexuality the only one accepted?

correct?

As stated, Kinsey saw people as bisexual. Sigmund Freud shared the same opinion. Scientists said that we are born with an equally developed attraction to men and women: only in the process of education and maturation is our attraction directed in the necessary direction. These factors make us socialized. If we take away moral and spiritual qualities, fundamental beliefs and life experience, knowledge and thinking, culture and achievements of civilization, we will turn into real animals. This is the main answer to the question of correct orientation.

Let us pay attention to the same animals: in their world you will hardly find manifestations of homosexuality. Representatives of the same sex do not experience attraction to each other; on the contrary, their relationships can develop extremely aggressively. After all, they are in an eternal state of struggle for the best partner for procreation. Therefore, we can conclude that hetero is the correct orientation, since it is inherent in each of us by Mother Nature herself.

Before we figure it out, it is worth noting that the issue of sexual orientation in human society has always been quite acute. This is most likely due to the fact that it is one of the most important and ubiquitous aspects of human life. Questions of sexuality and orientation have been asked by ordinary people and scientists of all specialties at different times, from ancient times to the present day. Research on sexuality issues was carried out by such recognized scientists as Freud and Kinsey. Since this question lies quite deeply in human physiology (as well as animals), not everything is clear about why certain people or animals choose this or that sexual orientation. There are still debates about this.

Many serious scientific organizations are studying this pressing issue today, and huge amounts of money from state budgets are spent on this. At the same time, views on issues of sexual orientation in human society change over time, sometimes dramatically. If you look into history, you will notice that this has been happening for a very long time, since ancient times and even earlier. Numerous images from Greek art have come down to us showing people with different sexual orientations.

What does the word "hetero orientation" mean?

To understand what the word means "hetero orientation", we should first turn to the etymology of the word “hetero”. This word came to us from the Greek language, in which it meant the concepts of “different”, “different”, “other”. Actually, this is not a full-fledged word, but just a prefix that forms some words, and in Russian this prefix has the meaning “foreign-”, “various-”, and the like. This prefix has become an independent word in colloquial form to denote the term “heterosexuality.” And yet, what does hetero orientation mean? If we consider the sexual context, this means sexual orientation, which involves attraction to individuals (in the particular case of a person - to persons) only of the opposite sex. Moreover, it is worth noting that often this concept implies all the components of such an attraction - emotional, romantic, sexual.

In a simpler interpretation, this is the relationship between a man and a woman (or, in the animal world, between a male and a female). This orientation is the most common on our planet and is considered “normal” by most people, which often causes protests among people with a different sexual orientation, that is, (people with attraction to both sexes) and homosexuals (people with attraction to the same sex). These protests arise from the fact that this widespread opinion about the “normality” of heterosexual orientation seems to hint at the “abnormality” and pathological nature of everything else.

Sexuality in ancient times

We have received evidence that in ancient times, in such progressive states of that time as Greece, one could meet quite a lot of people who were either only partially heterosexual or were completely homosexual. Moreover, a similar phenomenon could be observed among both men and women. Similar cases were not uncommon among high-ranking nobles and officials, even among the military. Many ordinary family men, who sometimes had numerous offspring and took care of their offspring and wives, quite often entered into relationships with people of the same sex, and this phenomenon was generally accepted in the society of that time.

In ancient times, sexuality was a personal matter for each person and, for example, in Greece a choice different from the choice of the majority was not prohibited.

Among the military, the phenomenon of homosexuality was observed for a simple reason - conquerors very often humiliated their prisoners from opposing armies right on the battlefield, so among soldiers it was considered a normal phenomenon. In addition, women, naturally, were not taken on military campaigns, and, obviously, some soldiers were attracted to their fellow soldiers when they were away from their wives.

Heterosexuality today

As before, heterosexuality is today the most common sexual orientation on Earth and is considered “normal.” There is a lot of controversy and debate about this in today's world. In many countries, even today, there are corporal punishments for those found to be attracted to the same sex; in countries with particularly strict morals, there is even the death penalty as punishment for homosexuality. So far, science has not found accurate and unambiguous answers to questions about what determines people’s sexual orientation.

In addition, it is still absolutely unclear whether this or that choice of an individual is conscious or whether this phenomenon is genetic. In any case, globally, homosexuals have managed to declare their existence today and are trying to defend their rights at the highest level. In some countries, there are even entire political parties dedicated to protecting the rights of homosexuals. In many Western countries, so-called “gay parades” are held, where homosexuals try to express themselves and draw attention to the issue of infringement of their rights.

In this article we have discussed in detail What does hetero orientation mean?, and examined issues of heterosexuality and homosexuality, as well as a borderline condition called bisexuality.