Throw everything you know about human sexuality out the window, because science has proven nobody is 100% straight.
A recent study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology has revealed both genders are attracted to men and women to at least some degree. Instead, sexual orientation should be viewed on a spectrum.
Researchers looked at gender expression in women and recorded their physiological response to viewing "a variety of pornographic material." By measuring the dilation of their pupils, they found that the participants were aroused by both heterosexual and homosexual sex, regardless of the sexual orientation they identify with.
In comparison, men's pupils also dilated when watching both men and women masturbate.
"You can't control your eye dilation. Essentially, that's what the whole project attempts to get at, another way of assessing sexuality without relying on self report," psychologist Ritch C. Savin-Williams, the lead author of the study, said.
He said this analysis is part of a greater research project, which will examine "true human sexuality through physiological queues."
"We show straight men a picture of a woman masturbating and they respond just like a straight guy, but then you also show them a guy masturbating and their eyes dilate a little bit," Savin-Williams said. "So we're actually able to show physiologically that all guys are not either gay, straight, or bi."
So how will this research affect us?
In Savin-William's book, Mostly Straight: Sexual Fluidity Among Men, he reports that the "younger generations are increasingly open to 'looser boundaries.'"
One of the studies included interviews from 40 men who insisted they were straightand interviews 40 men who insist that while they are "straight," they would be open to experience a romantic tryst same-sex partner.
While there has been more acceptance towards bisexual women compared to men, the psychologist said this research will help the latter feel more comfortable with being sexually fluid.
"Men have gotten so much cultural crap put on them that even if a man does have some sexual attraction to guys, they would never say it," he explained.
In addition to these findings, Savin-Williams said these findings will help youth feel more accepted as they experiment with their sexuality.
"I think that's happening for both sexes. It's probably a good thing, because it gives kids growing up more diversity, more options, so they don't feel like they have to fit in [at all costs]," he said.
"Straight women and straight men feel much more comfortable than ever before in going into the realm of the other sex in terms of gender role and how they act," he added.
Do you think these findings are true? Let us know!
[H/T: Broadly, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror]