A relação entre temperamento e orientação sexual

Abstract

The relationship between temperament, emotional traits and sexual orientation has not been deeply investigated in a large population sample. In this study, we used the Affective and Emotional Composite Temperament Scale (AFECTS) to assess such relationship. Data from 16.571 (mean age = 29.1 ± 6.3 yrs, 69.4% females) subjects was collected through the Internet, in Brazil, using the AFECTS. Sexual orientation groups were named: heterosexuals, heterosexual with homosexual experience, bisexuals with preference for the opposite sex, bisexuals with no preference, bisexual with preference for the same sex and homosexuals. Regarding affective temperaments, male cyclothymics and dysphorics had the lowest percentage of people with heterosexual orientation and the highest percentages of people with bisexual and homosexual orientation, the opposite profile was observed in hyperthymic and euthymic types. Among females, the volatile, cyclothymic, apathetic, disinhibited and euphoric types were less often observed in people with “pure” heterosexual orientation and more often in people with bisexual orientation. In men only, homosexuality was more common among the depressive, cyclothymic and dysphorics temperaments. Emotional trait analysis showed that heterosexual subjects differed statistically from all other groups by having higher scores of coping and stability and lower scores of sensitivity and desire. Overall, the largest differences compared to “pure” heterosexuals were observed in people with bisexual orientation with no gender preference in females and people with bisexual orientation with opposite gender preference in males. Subjects with heterosexual orientation who have had homosexual experience and those with homosexual orientation presented intermediate scores.