Turn It Off! The Effects of Exposure to Male–Male Erotic Imagery on Heterosexuals' Attitudes toward Gay Men

Abstract

Despite the recent proliferation of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) thematic content in U.S. media, there have been relatively few empirical investigations examining its impact on heterosexuals’ attitudes toward LGB individuals. This study examined the effect of one type of content, male–male homoerotic imagery, on male and female heterosexuals’ attitudes toward, stereotypes about, and affective reactions to gay men. One hundred ninety-eight undergraduate students were assigned to either a male–male or male–female erotica condition, and their corresponding attitudes toward gay men were assessed. Results revealed that the effect of erotic imagery (male–male vs. male–female) on participants’ stereotype and affect scores differed for men and women at varying levels of sexual anxiety. The implications of these findings are discussed in light of the literature on exposure to erotic imagery and attitudes toward gay men. In particular, the study highlights the need for additional research that acknowledges within-gender heterogeneity with respect to antigay attitude valence, extremity, and function.

Notes

¹Preliminary analyses revealed that there were no mean differences between the four video clips on any of the dependent measures of interest, thereby providing additional statistical justification for collapsing across the erotic content conditions in the main analyses.

Note. Descriptive statistics are based on scores prior to transformations. ATG = Attitudes Toward Gay Men scale.

^a ATG scores can range from 9 to 81, with higher scores indicating more negative attitudes.

^b Stereotype scores can range from −2 to +2, with lower scores indicating more negative stereotypes.

^c Affect scores can range from −2 to +2, with lower scores indicating more negative affect.

Note. N = 198. EC = erotic content; G = participant gender; SA = sexual anxiety.

^a Betas are reported for the step in which the variables were entered into the regression.

*p < .001.

Note. N = 198. EC = erotic content; G = participant gender; SA = sexual anxiety.

^a Betas are reported for the step in which the variables were entered into the regression.

*p < .02.

**p < .001.

Note. N = 198. EC = erotic content; G = participant gender; SA = sexual anxiety.

^a Betas are reported for the step in which the variables were entered into the regression.

*p < .02.

**p < .001.