Changing Attitudes Through Social Influence: Does Social Distance Matter?

Abstract

To test the effects of social influence and social distance on attitudes, we assessed judgments of gay and lesbian targets in various contexts over three studies (n = 814, 51% female). We compared the impact of a derogatory message to a relatively favorable message ostensibly written by another participant. Participants were robustly moved by the feedback; social influence was a significant predictor in final evaluations of the target, as was social distance. Discrimination against gay men and lesbian women appears not to be a fixed behavior; seemingly anyone can be persuaded to discriminate or not to discriminate by mere peer suggestion.

Facing Our Fears: The Impact of a 4-Day Training Intervention to Reduce Negative Perspectives on Sexual and Gender Minorities among Religious Leaders in Kenya

“…Our findings confirm that bias against sexual and gender minorities is not static but can be changed (Mahaffey & Bryan, 2016;Poteat et al, 2017), and that, consistent with literature on attitudinal change, an educational intervention and training can be effective in realizing such change (Bartos et al, 2014;Currier & Carlson, 2009;Dalky, 2012;Gichuru et al, 2014;Livingston et al, 2012). This study responds to the appeal for research that tests whether effects of attitudinal change interventions persist over time (Corrigan et al, 2015) and expands on the study done by Poteat et al (2017), demonstrating that the impact of gender and sexual diversity training can be persistent.…”