Isn't the best explanation here just social desirability bias? Media says non-straights are great, so it sounds good to say you're not straight. The vast majority of these newly identified bisexuals are just straight people, many of whom of had one or two awkward, unpleasant "experiments" because they felt being gay was virtuous.
Isn't the best explanation here just social desirability bias? Media says non-straights are great, so it sounds good to say you're not straight. The vast majority of these newly identified bisexuals are just straight people, many of whom of had one or two awkward, unpleasant "experiments" because they felt being gay was virtuous.
Yeah I grew up in the 90s and was very pro LGB. Even went out to gay bars with gay friends. Even was kissed by a gay man once and didn't freak out. But straight as an arrow and to claim otherwise would be silly. Nevertheless I have no trouble imagining a 19-21 year old me born 20 years ago instead of 40+ saying they were "bi-sexual" just to fit in an score points.
Which, unfortunately, increases the risks of getting hit on by gay friends. And the difficulty turning down an offer. "Yeah, I'm bi but I'm just not into you" is much more a personal rejection than "thanks, I'm flattered but don't swing that way". It's another version of "it's not you, it's me".
Mmm. Maybe. But I feel like there's a difference between conformity (actually becoming like your peers) and SDB (saying the thing that sounds best to your peers).
Isn't the best explanation here just social desirability bias? Media says non-straights are great, so it sounds good to say you're not straight. The vast majority of these newly identified bisexuals are just straight people, many of whom of had one or two awkward, unpleasant "experiments" because they felt being gay was virtuous.
People also need to understand that maintaining a healthy sexual life requires self discipline.
It requires even more self-discipline now that positive rather than negative social points are scored for being sexually "nonconforming."
Yeah I grew up in the 90s and was very pro LGB. Even went out to gay bars with gay friends. Even was kissed by a gay man once and didn't freak out. But straight as an arrow and to claim otherwise would be silly. Nevertheless I have no trouble imagining a 19-21 year old me born 20 years ago instead of 40+ saying they were "bi-sexual" just to fit in an score points.
Which, unfortunately, increases the risks of getting hit on by gay friends. And the difficulty turning down an offer. "Yeah, I'm bi but I'm just not into you" is much more a personal rejection than "thanks, I'm flattered but don't swing that way". It's another version of "it's not you, it's me".
Caplan covers this towards the end of the article under his discussion of conformity.
Mmm. Maybe. But I feel like there's a difference between conformity (actually becoming like your peers) and SDB (saying the thing that sounds best to your peers).