The Gay Naked Ape - Here We Go Again!
Dave Muskera, M.A.
December 10, 2007
Desmond Morris of Naked Ape fame, zoologist and writer now nearing age 80, has changed his mind about the causes of a type of human behavior that, when he graduated from school, was considered an illness. For many years, Dr. Morris held the belief that males became gay as a result of “absent fathers” in combination with the presence of dominant mothers. Now, in the face of decades of evidence to the contrary, he admits to being “wrong”.
Not to be dissuaded by actual research however, Dr. Morris has changed directions (but not methods) by offering us yet another un-testable and impossible to research “hypothesis” (read that as - a “hunch”) about the origin of homosexuality. And this time, in an age of sensational journalism where attention to accuracy is not valued, his hunch has been elevated to the status of a “theory” in many of the write-ups available from news sources.
Still, you’ve got to hand it to this man. He has spent a lifetime studying animals and attempting to draw parallels to human behavior. After entering the public consciousness in the 1950s when he began as an early TV version of “Zoo Parade”, he later produced a string of popular books beginning in 1967 with his bestseller “The Naked Ape”. This book of zoological speculation focused on his observations of the animal-like qualities of human behavior and in particular man’s similarity to apes. It was and still is entertaining reading. He has written prolifically about such diverse subjects as the origin of gestures - to books on cat and dog watching.
His new proposal regarding the origin of homosexuality can be found in his latest publication, “The Naked Man”. His hunch about homosexuality - a complex area of human behavior and psychology - apparently springs from his knowledge of the field of developmental biology. He uses the concept of neoteny as the cornerstone (maybe the only stone) for his speculation. In biology, neoteny refers to the supposed retention into adulthood of less developed or “juvenile traits” - be they physical or behavioral. He now speculates that since gay men tend to be more inventive and creative than heterosexuals, they are somehow stuck at an infantile level causing them to retain the mental agility and playfulness found in children. He does not explain much about childhood sexuality, but from his silence on the subject and his position on neoteny, one might conclude that he would endorse the idea that the natural or default state of early sexual development is homosexual. Possibly then, only the culturalizing influence of society pushes males to become adult heterosexuals. OK, now pull yourself down from the ceiling. I know this might be a distressing idea.
Sit back and try to breathe deeply for a bit. Let’s forget, for the moment, that Dr. Morris earned his degrees over fifty years ago when homosexuality was still thought to be a disease of some sort. Let’s forget that his doctorate was granted on the basis of a thesis dealing with the reproductive behavior of sticklebacks (a type of fish) and let’s forget that while he writes in an entertaining fashion and has a keen eye for observation, he has done little actual “research” and is well known for his unscientific tendency to anthropomorphize animal behavior. Let’s not think what might underpin his affinity for the word “naked” in book titles. But consider: in reality, he has most typically offered concepts that, while stimulating, are not considered researchable science since they cannot be empirically tested nor verified with repeatable studies.
His current homosexual explanation, like the old one, is yet another ex post facto construction. It can neither be proven nor disproved unless you’re willing to review the growing body of social science research evidence that points in other and opposite directions. It seems Dr. Morris has not yet taken this step. If he has the good fortune to live another ten or twenty years, he may again see the light and come to another new conclusion. He may realize he was “wrong” this time as well.
While this “news” of Dr. Morris’s latest foray into explaining human homosexual behavior has been mostly noted in England’s press (he is after all a graduate of Oxford – class of 1954 and a born Englishman), I’m going to take my own guess and speculate a bit. I suspect it will not be too long before someone in the far religious right camp picks up on this bit of “scientific news” and somehow twists it around their preconceived notions about homosexuality being the result of early environmental factors. They still hold to this position. They are unable or unwilling to alter the idea even though Dr. Morris has done so. They will talk of this new Desmond Morris pronouncement as if it were factual science and will somehow use it to further demean gay people. They will find a place for the idea in their “treatment” programs that attempt to produce ex-gays. Now they may try to create ex-children. I hope I’m wrong on these possibilities - but I won’t be surprised. We’ll just have to wait and see.
In the meantime, I continue to sincerely believe Dr. Morris is a brilliant observer and writer. I have enjoyed many of his books. But, when it comes to explanations of human sexual behavior, in particular homosexuality, I think Dr. Morris should stick to sticklebacks.
Not to be dissuaded by actual research however, Dr. Morris has changed directions (but not methods) by offering us yet another un-testable and impossible to research “hypothesis” (read that as - a “hunch”) about the origin of homosexuality. And this time, in an age of sensational journalism where attention to accuracy is not valued, his hunch has been elevated to the status of a “theory” in many of the write-ups available from news sources.
Still, you’ve got to hand it to this man. He has spent a lifetime studying animals and attempting to draw parallels to human behavior. After entering the public consciousness in the 1950s when he began as an early TV version of “Zoo Parade”, he later produced a string of popular books beginning in 1967 with his bestseller “The Naked Ape”. This book of zoological speculation focused on his observations of the animal-like qualities of human behavior and in particular man’s similarity to apes. It was and still is entertaining reading. He has written prolifically about such diverse subjects as the origin of gestures - to books on cat and dog watching.
His new proposal regarding the origin of homosexuality can be found in his latest publication, “The Naked Man”. His hunch about homosexuality - a complex area of human behavior and psychology - apparently springs from his knowledge of the field of developmental biology. He uses the concept of neoteny as the cornerstone (maybe the only stone) for his speculation. In biology, neoteny refers to the supposed retention into adulthood of less developed or “juvenile traits” - be they physical or behavioral. He now speculates that since gay men tend to be more inventive and creative than heterosexuals, they are somehow stuck at an infantile level causing them to retain the mental agility and playfulness found in children. He does not explain much about childhood sexuality, but from his silence on the subject and his position on neoteny, one might conclude that he would endorse the idea that the natural or default state of early sexual development is homosexual. Possibly then, only the culturalizing influence of society pushes males to become adult heterosexuals. OK, now pull yourself down from the ceiling. I know this might be a distressing idea.
Sit back and try to breathe deeply for a bit. Let’s forget, for the moment, that Dr. Morris earned his degrees over fifty years ago when homosexuality was still thought to be a disease of some sort. Let’s forget that his doctorate was granted on the basis of a thesis dealing with the reproductive behavior of sticklebacks (a type of fish) and let’s forget that while he writes in an entertaining fashion and has a keen eye for observation, he has done little actual “research” and is well known for his unscientific tendency to anthropomorphize animal behavior. Let’s not think what might underpin his affinity for the word “naked” in book titles. But consider: in reality, he has most typically offered concepts that, while stimulating, are not considered researchable science since they cannot be empirically tested nor verified with repeatable studies.
His current homosexual explanation, like the old one, is yet another ex post facto construction. It can neither be proven nor disproved unless you’re willing to review the growing body of social science research evidence that points in other and opposite directions. It seems Dr. Morris has not yet taken this step. If he has the good fortune to live another ten or twenty years, he may again see the light and come to another new conclusion. He may realize he was “wrong” this time as well.
While this “news” of Dr. Morris’s latest foray into explaining human homosexual behavior has been mostly noted in England’s press (he is after all a graduate of Oxford – class of 1954 and a born Englishman), I’m going to take my own guess and speculate a bit. I suspect it will not be too long before someone in the far religious right camp picks up on this bit of “scientific news” and somehow twists it around their preconceived notions about homosexuality being the result of early environmental factors. They still hold to this position. They are unable or unwilling to alter the idea even though Dr. Morris has done so. They will talk of this new Desmond Morris pronouncement as if it were factual science and will somehow use it to further demean gay people. They will find a place for the idea in their “treatment” programs that attempt to produce ex-gays. Now they may try to create ex-children. I hope I’m wrong on these possibilities - but I won’t be surprised. We’ll just have to wait and see.
In the meantime, I continue to sincerely believe Dr. Morris is a brilliant observer and writer. I have enjoyed many of his books. But, when it comes to explanations of human sexual behavior, in particular homosexuality, I think Dr. Morris should stick to sticklebacks.
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