Kinsey's View on Human Behavior

Abstract

One would expect a zoologist, when he addresses himself to study of some aspect of human behavior, to elect from current assortment of theoretical orientations toward human behavior --such as psychoanalytic theory, field theory, symbolic interaction theory and learning theory-that one which has most in common with zoological orientation toward organisms in general. is therefore not surprising to find that Kinsey takes what is essentially learning theorist's point of view, with its heavy reliance on physiological explanations for human (social) behavior. This much was evident in first Kinsey report, but one had to infer it from his unit for analysis, his choice of language, his use of data from infra-human species and from his interpretive statements scattered here and there throughout book. In second Kinsey report he has in Chapter 16, Psychologic Factors in Sexual Response, given a fairly explicit account of his view, one which corroborates judgment that his is a learning theory position, at least insofar as he takes into account factors which are not patently physiological in first place. He makes it clear that he regards with misgivings distinction between physiologic and psychologic.* He says, for example, It might properly be contended that all functions of living matter are physiologic .. . only regarding it as customary to regard certain aspects of animal behavior as psychologic functions. (p. 642)x* This customary distinction he evidently regards as treacherous, for he suggests that an end product of distinction encourages the opinion that psychologic aspects of human sexual behavior are of a different