Limitations of the Contact Hypothesis: Heterogeneity in the Contact Effect on Attitudes toward Gay Rights

Abstract

An extensive and growing body of research has demonstrated that knowing someone who is gay, lesbian, or bisexual can substantially increase support for policies, such as same‐sex marriage, that are designed to promote equal rights for gays. However, cognitive psychological theories and contemporary theories of public opinion also suggest that the effect of interpersonal contact could be highly contextual, facing limitations based on the context and prior beliefs or stereotypes of the contact situation. This article explores the limitations implied by these theories and tests for heterogeneity in the contact effect according to the individual's predispositions. We find considerable variability in the contact effect based on ideology, religion, culture, and other important political groups, such as white southern evangelicals. We conclude by considering the practical and policy implications of these limitations in the ability of interpersonal contact to generate support for same‐sex marriage and other gay rights policies. Un extenso y creciente cuerpo de investigación ha demostrado que conocer a alguien gay, lesbiana, o bisexual puede aumentar sustancialmente el apoyo a políticas tales como la del matrimonio entre parejas del mismo sexo que están diseñadas para promover la igualdad de derechos de los gays. Sin embargo, teorías cognitivas psicológicas y teorías contemporáneas de opinión pública también sugieren que el efecto del contacto interpersonal puede ser altamente contextual, lo que enfrenta limitaciones basadas en el contexto y creencias previas o los estereotipos de la situación en la que se da el contacto. Este artículo explora las limitantes sugeridas por estas teorías y examina la heterogeneidad en el efecto del contacto basado en ideología, religión, cultura, y otros grupos políticos importantes tales como los evangélicos blancos sureños. Concluimos considerando las implicaciones prácticas y para la hechura de políticas de estas limitaciones del contacto interpersonal para generar apoyo para el matrimonio entre parejas del mismo sexo y otras políticas de derechos de los gays.

Contact with gays and lesbians and same-sex marriage support: The moderating role of social context

“…Though support for same-sex marriage has increased significantly in recent years, religious conservatives' attitudes have shown little movement (Linneman, 2004;Sherkat et al, 2010). Recent studies suggest that personal contact with gays or lesbians has notably weaker effects on religious conservatives' attitudes (Lewis, 2011;Skipworth et al, 2010). The current study builds on this work by situating interpersonal contact within its broader social context.…”

“…Individuals with strong religious, cultural, or ideological predispositions can filter out information that is inconsistent with those predispositions (Zaller, 1992). Indeed, studies have pointed to weaker contact effects among churchgoers and religious conservatives, particularly in the South (Herek and Glunt, 1993;Lewis, 2011;Skipworth et al, 2010). No previous study, however, has examined whether individuals with more social ties to religious conservatives may themselves be more resistant to attitude change resulting from contact with gays and lesbians.…”

Formal Rights and Informal Privileges for Same-Sex Couples

“…Formal rights have been the focus of most attitudinal research on homosexuality, especially nationally representative research (Lewis 2011;Skipworth, Gerner, and Dettrey 2010). Formal rights are legal rights, such as the partnership benefits conferred on married couples.…”

The Contact Hypothesis and Millennial Evangelical Protestants’ Attitudes toward Same-Sex Families

“…Some note that the favorable attitudes professed by those who have contact with LGBQ people may precede the contact. They theorize that LGBQ people are more likely to reveal their sexual identity to those who hold positive, accepting attitudes towards same-sex relations (Lewis 2007;Skipworth, Garner, and Dettrey 2010). Herek and Capitanio's (1996) longitudinal research provided support for this supposition, finding that individuals with favorable attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women in Wave 1 were more likely than others to experience contact in Wave 2.…”

“…Their research on the relationship between knowing someone who is LGBQ and attitudes towards gay rights concluded that the contact effect varies based on the individual's political, religious, and cultural predispositions. They found that contact with LGBQ people had a positive effect on all groups, but a limited effect among the most conservatively minded-groups (e.g., evangelical conservatives; Skipworth, Garner, and Dettrey 2010). B.…”