title: Sexual orientation across the life span: introduction to the special section.
abstract: What impact does sexual orientation have on human development over the life span? As questions related to sexual orientation have become increasingly topics of public discussion and debate in recent years, psychological study of the issues has also burgeoned. What was once a new frontier for research has matured into a large, complex, and rapidly growing area of knowledge. Important research is being conducted on many issues, by diverse investigators, from a number of theoretical perspectives, in many parts of the world. The articles in this special section provide only a sampling of current research, but they begin to suggest the vitality and excitement of a field that is coming into its own.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, P.O. Box 400400, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA. cjp@virginia.edu
authors.forename: Charlotte J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Patterson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology; D006803:Human Development; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D011606:Psychosexual Development; D012106:Research / Q000639:trends; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*