As usual, my initial thought got somewhat buried, due to my susceptibility to tangents. It's to do with social psychology, specifically herd mentality as I sometimes think of it.
It isn't as though there is an explosion in numbers of people long champing at the bit to be LGBTQ+ and are only now declaring they are because doing so has become easy and approved. It's more in trying to fit into the present fashion and, more importantly, doing nothing which could result in social ostracism. It's conforming where not conforming can earn social penalty. Imagine how strong the perceived pressure must be in order to overcome the sexuality a person has until their fear of being on the outs caused them to question it or publicly declare they are something else. It's worse than "dabbling", which is at least voluntary.
And doesn't that encourage the psychologically dangerous adoption of two identities, one for school and/or online and one for family and friends to date? Aspects of social psychology might provide explanations but a person's own psychology seems most at risk. My overall point is to do with the power and influence of the herd forces in question and what they are able to overcome.
There have already been many thoughtful comments on the subject of medical science and medical intervention, including Bill Heath, Maura and Elizabeth Hummel. On the subject of parenting, has anyone else observed a parent in fear of retaliation by a disapproving child? Fear driven parenting is another worthy topic in our topsy turvy culture.
Agree about herd mentality, but I would argue that on the fashion in question, the social stimulus is less about avoiding ostracism, and more about earning *easy* points -- frankly, on the backs of folks who have suffered through terrible trials, and continue to suffer in many sectors of society. This is where your comment on easy versus hard resonated with me.
I also believe that when it comes to sexual psychology, our instincts will prevail. That is, the forces of attraction that cause humans to couple in various ways are ultimately stronger than any social contagion.
Fair points, and I agree, Eli. Humans have not stopped being human. And of course there will always be variation, thank goodness. It's the social contagion point on which we continue to agree. Part of my point is that fashion often, perhaps usually, doesn't age well.
edited to correct my oversight by replacing "the" for "that", right before "social".
It doesn't age well, that's true, and especially so for trends that deviate further from the norm. The silver lining, I suppose, is that by definition any fashion will also inevitably become outmoded. I think of the toupee or the push-up bra. Both require trading a measure of dishonesty for vanity and/or social currency.
As usual, my initial thought got somewhat buried, due to my susceptibility to tangents. It's to do with social psychology, specifically herd mentality as I sometimes think of it.
It isn't as though there is an explosion in numbers of people long champing at the bit to be LGBTQ+ and are only now declaring they are because doing so has become easy and approved. It's more in trying to fit into the present fashion and, more importantly, doing nothing which could result in social ostracism. It's conforming where not conforming can earn social penalty. Imagine how strong the perceived pressure must be in order to overcome the sexuality a person has until their fear of being on the outs caused them to question it or publicly declare they are something else. It's worse than "dabbling", which is at least voluntary.
And doesn't that encourage the psychologically dangerous adoption of two identities, one for school and/or online and one for family and friends to date? Aspects of social psychology might provide explanations but a person's own psychology seems most at risk. My overall point is to do with the power and influence of the herd forces in question and what they are able to overcome.
There have already been many thoughtful comments on the subject of medical science and medical intervention, including Bill Heath, Maura and Elizabeth Hummel. On the subject of parenting, has anyone else observed a parent in fear of retaliation by a disapproving child? Fear driven parenting is another worthy topic in our topsy turvy culture.
Agree about herd mentality, but I would argue that on the fashion in question, the social stimulus is less about avoiding ostracism, and more about earning *easy* points -- frankly, on the backs of folks who have suffered through terrible trials, and continue to suffer in many sectors of society. This is where your comment on easy versus hard resonated with me.
I also believe that when it comes to sexual psychology, our instincts will prevail. That is, the forces of attraction that cause humans to couple in various ways are ultimately stronger than any social contagion.
Fair points, and I agree, Eli. Humans have not stopped being human. And of course there will always be variation, thank goodness. It's the social contagion point on which we continue to agree. Part of my point is that fashion often, perhaps usually, doesn't age well.
edited to correct my oversight by replacing "the" for "that", right before "social".
It doesn't age well, that's true, and especially so for trends that deviate further from the norm. The silver lining, I suppose, is that by definition any fashion will also inevitably become outmoded. I think of the toupee or the push-up bra. Both require trading a measure of dishonesty for vanity and/or social currency.