Sexual Orientation

[Ben Davis]

Can sexual orientation be changed? Do certain sexual behaviors classified as psychiatritric disorders, such as pedophilia, fall under sexual orientation? Why or why not?

You've got some conflation of definitions here. Sexuality breaks down like this:

1. Sexual Orientation: the things which consciously or subconsciously trigger sexual desires or responses

2. Sexual Behaviour: the actions you choose to take (or not to take) in response to your orientation

3. Sexual Labelling:
a. broad social identification in response to 'typifying' aspects of Orientation and Behaviour
b. self-identification in response to your Orientation, Behaviour and social identification


So which parts are you talking about changing here? If you mean Orientation, Alice's response is pretty much on the button; you've gotta smash something. If you're talking about Behaviour, there's a large aspect which is self-policed although, once again, Alice's suggestions would work. On the subject of labelling, that's mainly down to social convention: change the conventions and you change the labels.