Gender Threats and Men’s Antigay Behaviors: The Harmful Effects of Asserting Heterosexuality
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-2012
Keywords
antigay behaviors, gay men, gender threats, manhood, sexual prejudice
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1177%2F1368430211432893
Abstract
Whereas recent work on gender role violations suggests that asserting their heterosexuality may diminish the harmful effects of gender threats (versus gender affirmations) on men’s antigay reactions, predictions derived from social identity theory suggest that asserting heterosexuality can exacerbate the negative effects of a gender threat on antigay reactions. Two studies tested these competing hypotheses. In Study 1, gender threatened versus affirmed men sent more intense noise blasts at a gay partner, but only if they asserted their heterosexuality. In Study 2, men high in sexual prejudice who underwent a gender threat sat farther from a gay confederate than gender affirmed men, but only if they asserted heterosexuality. Discussion considers the theoretical and practical implications of these findings, and highlights directions for future research.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, v. 15, issue 4, p. 471-486
Scholar Commons Citation
Bosson, Jennifer K.; Weaver, Jonathan R.; Caswell, T. Andrew; and Burnaford, Rochelle M., "Gender Threats and Men’s Antigay Behaviors: The Harmful Effects of Asserting Heterosexuality" (2012). Psychology Faculty Publications. 1165.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/psy_facpub/1165
