Understanding Antigay Bias From a Cognitive-Affective-Behavioral Perspective

Abstract

In general, United States citizens have become increasingly more accepting of lesbians and gay men over the past few decades. Despite this shift in public attitudes, antigay bias remains openly tolerated, accepted, practiced, and even defended by a substantial portion of the population. This article reviews why and how antigay bias persists using a cognitive-affective-behavioral perspective that touches on sociocognitive factors such as prejudice and stereotyping, as well as features unique to antigay bias, such as its concealable nature. The article concludes with a discussion of how understanding modern antigay bias through a cognitive-affective-behavioral lens can be applied to reduce discrimination against gays and lesbians.

KEYWORDS:

• gay prejudice
• LGBT stereotypes
• discrimination
• concealable stigmas
• heterosexism
• sexual prejudice
• homophobia

Notes

1. In reality, the stereotype content of gays and lesbians may be more nuanced than what is presented in the model, because different gay and lesbian subgroups are associated with different stereotype content. For example, flamboyant gay men are perceived as warm, but not competent, whereas hypermasculine gay men are perceived as competent, but not very warm (perceptions of lesbians show a flipped pattern). Leather/biker gays or crossdressers are perceived as low on both warmth and competence, whereas artistic or straight-acting gay men are perceived as being slightly high on both warmth and competence (Clausell & Fiske, 2005; Eckes, 2002). On average, however, gays and lesbians are not perceived to be high in warmth and competence (Fiske, 2010).

2. Discrimination can also be self-reinforced by serving some psychological function to the transgressor (Tajfel & Turner, 1986; Turner et al., 1987; Yzerbyt & Demoulin, 2010). In case of antigay bias, subtle discrimination (e.g., avoidance) may be negatively reinforced by alleviating an unpleasant emotional state (e.g., discomfort); or an overt discriminatory act (harassing a gay man) may positively reinforced via the resulting increase in one’s self-esteem, perceived masculinity, or social praise (“way to go, you’re a real man”).