Scientific American MIND Nationwide Poll Reveals Surprising Perceptions of Sexual Orientation Among Americans

Market Wire, February, 2006

Half of all Americans believe sexual orientation is "innate, genetic or predetermined by other factors such as environment," a new nationwide Zogby Interactive poll shows. The surprising findings are the topline results of a survey commissioned by Scientific American MIND (SciamMind.com), the magazine that probes the workings of the brain and its impact on behavior.

Just 11% agreed with the statement, "sexual orientation is a conscious choice," while one in three (34%) said they believed that "sexual orientation is determined by both choice and other factors." Six percent were not sure. The margin of error for the survey, which included 4,236 interviews, is /-1.5 percentage points.

While expressing a widespread belief that orientation is not an active choice, respondents also appeared to believe that sexual orientation occurred along something of a spectrum -- with both straight and gay people having the potential to be attracted to individuals of either sex.

Some 47% of poll respondents, a slight plurality, agreed with the statement, "I believe that all people have the potential to be sexually attracted to members of both sexes." But a distinct majority, 53%, said they believed that "a straight person may occasionally experience sexual attraction to individuals of the same sex." An even higher percentage, 62%, said they believed "a gay person may occasionally experience sexual attraction to individuals of the opposite sex."

Scientific American MIND commissioned the poll to probe public attitudes on the question of "Do Gays Have A Choice?" -- the focus and title of the magazine's article by Robert Epstein exploring recent research on sexual orientation. The article, which is distinct from this survey, appears in the February/March issue of Scientific American MIND, which hits newsstands this week.

The Scientific American MIND poll also found:

--  The belief that sexual preference is predetermined is widely held
    across demographic and political lines. It was particularly prevalent among
    Americans aged 50-64 (53%); single people (59%); Hispanics  (57%); and
    Democrats (72%).

--  The belief that sexual orientation was either fully or partly a choice
    was more widespread among conservative groups. It was especially prevalent
    among those who classified themselves as "very conservative" (80%), with
    only 15% of that group believing sexual orientation was predetermined.

--  Men and women are deeply divided in their perceptions of sexual
    orientation: 60% of females believe it is innate, genetic or predetermined
    by other factors such as environment; a far higher percentage than men
    (39%).

--  The belief that "all people have the potential to be sexually
    attracted to members of both sexes" was especially prevalent among adults
    under 30 (66%).
    

Robert Epstein's article in the new issue of Scientific American MIND, "Do Gays Have A Choice?" explores recent research that suggests that sexual orientation may occur in along a continuum, ranging from exclusive same-sex attraction to exclusive opposite sex attraction. Readers can see where they fall on the spectrum by taking a quiz in the magazine and on its website, SciamMind.com.

Launched in 2004, and now bi-monthly, Scientific American MIND appears on newsstands nationwide and has a cover price of $5.95. Other stories in the February/March issue include: "Picture This," a look at how the brain creates mental images; "Combating Stress In Iraq," about how military psychologists are helping the troops on the battlefield; "Do Animals Have Feelings?" about recent findings on this question; and "Mastery of Emotions," a profile of New York University neuroscientist Joseph E. LeDoux and his work exploring the biology of emotion.

Contact: Jill Shea BOLDE Communications & Public Relations, Inc. 212-727-1680 Email Contact