Social Norms and Prejudice against Homosexuals

Abstract

Different studies regarding the role of norms on the expression of prejudice have shown that the anti-prejudice norm influences people to inhibit prejudice expressions. However, if norm pressure has led to a substantial decrease in the public expression of prejudice against certain targets (e.g., blacks, women, blind people), little theoretical and empirical attention has been paid to the role of this general norm regarding sexual minorities (e.g., prostitutes, lesbians and gays). In this sense, the issue we want to address is whether general anti-prejudice norms can reduce the expression of prejudice against homosexual individuals. In this research we investigate the effect of activating an anti-prejudice norm against homosexuals on blatant and subtle expressions of prejudice. The anti-prejudice norm was experimentally manipulated and its effects were observed on rejection to intimacy (blatant prejudice) and on positive-negative emotions (subtle prejudice) regarding homosexuals. 136 university students were randomly allocated to activated-norm and control conditions and completed a questionnaire that included norm manipulation and the dependent variables. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) as well as subsequent ANOVAS showed that only in the high normative pressure condition participants expressed less rejection to intimacy and less negative emotions against homosexuals, when compared to the simple norm-activation and the control conditions. Positive emotions, however, were similar both in the high normative pressure and the control conditions. We concluded that a high anti-prejudice pressure regarding homosexuals could reduce blatant prejudice but not subtle prejudice, considering that the expression of negative emotions decreased while the expression of positive emotions remained stable.

Homofobia transatlântica: preconceito contra lésbicas e gays em Portugal e no Brasil

“…Tratando-se de respondentes com um elevado nível de educação, os estudantes portugueses e brasileiros poderão ter interiorizado, de forma semelhante, a norma social que impede expressões fl agrantemente abertas do preconceito contra lésbicas e gays (Alonso, 2007;Castillo et al, 2003;Herek & McLemore, 2013;Pereira et al, 2009). Nesta medida, tal como outros congêneres seus, tenderam a subscrever formas mais veladas de preconceito (Gato et al, 2012;Morrison & Morrison, 2002;Rye & Meaney, 2010).…”

“…O desenvolvimento de um pretenso novo sentido moral de igualdade, respeito e tolerância nas sociedades ditas pós-materialistas (Inglehart, 1997) ou o fato de a Declaração Universal dos Direitos Humanos e diversas legislações nacionais e internacionais condenarem todas as formas de preconceito e discriminação, são fatores que têm contribuído para o progressivo estabelecimento de uma norma social anti-preconceito (Alonso, 2007;Castillo, Rodríguez, Torres, Pé-rez, & Martel, 2003;Pereira, Monteiro, & Camino, 2009). A progressiva infl uência desta norma tem levado a que algumas pessoas tendam a evitar expressar de forma aberta e declarada atitudes negativas contra lésbicas e gays (Castillo et al, 2003;Pereira et al, 2009).…”

“…A progressiva infl uência desta norma tem levado a que algumas pessoas tendam a evitar expressar de forma aberta e declarada atitudes negativas contra lésbicas e gays (Castillo et al, 2003;Pereira et al, 2009). Consistentemente, um inquérito sobre diversidade sexual e homofobia realizado no Brasil (Venturi, 2009) revelou que 92% das pessoas entrevistadas acreditavam que existia preconceito contra pessoas GLBT (gays, lésbicas, bissexuais e transgêne-ros).…”

Adoption of Children by Homosexual Couples: The Social Representations

“…In this context, anti-prejudicial pressures that are present in society, have a key role in reducing the stigmas and taboos and have, in turn, decreased the manifestations related to fl agrant and subtle prejudice (Pereira, Monteiro, & Camino, 2009). Discrimination due to of gender and sexual orientation still exists, however, the reduction of levels of prejudice through the comprehension of gender issues can lead to more assertive positions.…”

Identifying as in, out, or sexually inexperienced: Perception of sex-related personal disclosures

“…Interestingly, gay respondents also reported this same patterndespite evaluating disclosing their true (gay) orientation as more positive than disclosing a heterosexual orientation, they rated a gay orientation as less comfortable to disclose. Despite changing attitudes over recent decades (e.g., Pereira, Monteiro, & Camino, 2009) coming out is still a potentially stressful event. The ranking and ratings of perceptions of sex-related disclosure comfort for various audiences differed for heterosexual and gay participants with a few exceptions.…”