Sexual identity is how one thinks of oneself in terms of whom one is romantically or sexually attracted to.[1] Sexual identity may also refer to sexual orientation identity, which is when people identify or dis-identify with a certain sexual orientation or choose not to identify with said sexual orientation.[2] Sexual identity and sexual behavior are closely related to sexual orientation, but they are distinguished, with identity referring to an individual's conception of themselves, behavior referring to actual sexual acts performed by the individual, and sexual orientation referring to romantic or sexual attractions toward the opposite sex, the same sex, both sexes, or having no attractions.[1]
Historical models of sexual identity have tended to view its formation as a process undergone only by sexual minorities, while more contemporary models view the process as far more universal and attempt to present sexual identity within the larger scope of other major identity theories and processes.[3]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sexual orientation, sexual identity, and the question of choice [1]
- ↑ Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation (2009) American Psychological Association http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbc/publications/therapeutic-response.pdf
- ↑ Dillon, F. R., Worthington, R. L., & Moradi, B. (2011). Sexual identity as a universal process In S. J. Schwartz, K. Luyckx, & V. L. Vignoles (Eds), Handbook of identity theory and research (Vols 1 and 2), (pp.649-670). New York, NY: Springer Science + Business Media