Genetic sexual attraction (GSA) is a term for an overwhelming sexual attraction that may develop between close blood relatives who first meet as adults.
The term was coined in the US in the late 1980s by Barbara Gonyo, the founder of Truth Seekers In Adoption, a Chicago-based support group for adoptees and their new-found relatives.
Video Genetic sexual attraction
Contributing factors
People tend to select mates who are like themselves, which is known as assortative mating. This holds for both physical appearance and mental traits. People commonly rank faces similar to their own as more attractive, trustworthy, etc. than average. However, Bereczkei (2004) attributes this in part to childhood imprinting on the opposite-sex parent. As for mental traits, one study found a correlation of 0.403 between the IQs of husbands and wives, with husbands averaging about 2 IQ points higher. The study also reported a correlation of 0.233 for extraversion and 0.235 for inconsistency (using Eysenck's Personality Inventory). A review of many previous studies found these numbers to be quite common.
Heredity produces substantial physical and mental similarity between close relatives. Shared interests and personality traits are commonly considered desirable in a mate. The heritability of these qualities is a matter of debate but estimates are that IQ is about 80% heritable, and the big five personality factors are about 50% heritable. These data are for adults in Western countries.
For the above reasons, genetic sexual attraction is presumed to occur as a consequence of genetic relatives meeting as adults, typically as a consequence of adoption. Although this is a rare consequence of adoptive reunions, the large number of adoptive reunions in recent years means that a larger number of people are affected. If a sexual relationship is entered, it is known as incest.
GSA is rare between people raised together in early childhood due to a reverse sexual imprinting known as the Westermarck effect, which desensitizes them to later close sexual attraction. It is hypothesized that this effect evolved to prevent inbreeding.
Maps Genetic sexual attraction
Instances
Patrick Stübing and Susan Karolewski
A brother and sister couple in Germany, Patrick Stübing and Susan Karolewski, fought their country's anti-incest laws. They grew up separately, met in 2000 when he was 23 and she was 15. He moved in with his mother and sister and the couple had four children which began in January 2001, the month after their mother died. Their appeal was rejected in 2008, upholding Germany's anti-incest laws.
Kathryn Harrison memoir
Kathryn Harrison published a memoir in the 1990s regarding her four-year incestuous relationship with her biological father, whom she had not seen for almost 20 years prior to beginning the relationship, titled The Kiss.
Garry Ryan and Penny Lawrence
At age 18, Garry Ryan left his pregnant girlfriend and moved to the United States. The daughter, Penny Lawrence, grew up and later set out to find her missing father. When they met, they "both felt an immediate sexual attraction". They then lived together as a couple and as of April 2012 were expecting their first child together.
Steven Walter Pladl and Katie Rose
Steven Pladl and his girlfriend had a baby girl in 1998 that they gave up for adoption out of state. The couple later went on to marry and had two more children. When their first daughter, Katie, reached adulthood, she used the internet to locate the Pladls, reconnected with them, and moved into their home. After a short period of time, Steven and Katie began a sexual relationship which progressed to Steven's wife moving out of the Pladl home, Steven and Katie staging a wedding ceremony, and having an infant son of their own. Pladl's wife informed authorities of the relationship, and he and Katie were arrested on charges of incest in January 2018. On April 13, 2018, Steven killed Katie and their son, along with Katie's adoptive father, before committing suicide.
See also
- Accidental incest
- Kin recognition
- Laws regarding incest
- Oedipus Rex
- Gregorius
- Green-beard effect
- Westermarck effect
Notes
References
- Bereczkei, Tamas; et al. (2004). "Sexual imprinting in human mate choice". Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. 271 (1544): 1129-1134. doi:10.1098/rspb.2003.2672. PMC 1691703 . PMID 15306362.
Further reading
- Greenberg, M.; Littlewood, R. (1995). "Post Adoption Incest and Phenotypic Matching: Experience, Personal Meanings and Biosocial Implications". British Journal of Medical Psychology. 68 (Pt. 1): 29-44. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8341.1995.tb01811.x. PMID 7779767.
- Kirsta, Alix (17 May 2003). "Genetic sexual attraction". The Guardian.
- "The GSA (Genetic Sexual Attraction) Forum".
External links
- Kirsta, Alix (May 17, 2003). "Genetic sexual attraction". The Guardian.
Source of article : Wikipedia
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