Assume that homosexuality has a physical cause*. Use the three modes of existence and the concept of alienation to explain Jillian's experience with her sexual orientation.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Umwelt is the physical aspect of existence. An example of this would be a physical cause for homosexuality. Another example would be the physical arousal Jillian felt for other women. Mitwelt is the sphere of personal relationships. The case study mentions a number of relationships. Jillian had friends during adolescence but she felt she needed to keep her lesbian tendencies hidden from them. The same applies to her graduate school friend Erin. She also had a close relationship to her brother. Eigenwelt is a person's consciousness. An example of eigenwelt is Jillian's awareness that Erin means a lot to her. She was afraid she would lose Erin's friendship if she told her that she was in love with her.
Alienation is feeling separate from any of the above three modes of existence, i.e., physical nature, other people, or from yourself. Jillian felt alienation when she denied to herself her sexual orientation and feelings of arousal toward members of the same sex (separation from consciousness and perhaps the physical self). Alienation was also experienced during the time that Jillian was still in the closet about her sexual orientation. She did not share that information even with those she cared about. Her feelings of being different than others as a child, is also illustrative of alienation (separation from others).