Abstract
This multi-study investigation employed social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, Citation1979) to explain the use of derogatory terms about gay men by heterosexual men (nStudy1 = 225; nStudy2 = 334). This investigation extends research on sexual prejudice by demonstrating how homophobic communication by men often serves a self-presentation function that is mediated through group norms. Using structural equation modeling, the extent to which communication norms mediated attitudes toward gay men, gender identity, hetero-identity concern, and homophobic communication was explored. Results from both studies revealed that these data were consistent with a revised model where both descriptive communication norms and endorsement of prescriptive communication norms were mediators of gender identity and sexual prejudice in predicting men's homophobic communication and partially mediated hetero-identity concern.
Notes
Note. Study 1 correlations appear in the lower diagonal; Study 2 correlations appear in the upper diagonal.
*p < .05. **p < .01.