Same-Sex Couples in Advertisements: An Investigation of the Role of Implicit Attitudes on Cognitive Processing and Evaluation

Abstract

This research examined how implicit attitudes are associated with cognitive processing and self-reported evaluation of advertisements featuring same-sex couples. Hypotheses were posited using the theoretical framework of social identity theory (Tajfel and Turner 1986) and perspectives on implicit attitudes. In Study 1, participants watched and evaluated 10 television advertisements while physiological measures of cognitive and affective processing were collected. Ads varied such that half used same-sex couples as protagonists while the other half used other-sex couples. Participants demonstrated less positive responses to ads featuring same-sex couples. Physiological and self-reported responses were associated with implicit attitudes toward homosexuality Negative implicit attitudes toward homosexuality were associated with more negative affect, less attention, less positivity, and less liking for ads featuring same-sex couples. Two subsequent studies replicated these findings in nonstudent samples, indicating that participants preferred ads with other-sex couples (Study 2) and that implicit attitudes were associated with this response (Study 3). This research suggests that implicit attitudes affect processing and evaluation of ads featuring same-sex couples in ways unaccounted for by explicitly measured attitudes. Results are discussed in terms of advancing theory, furthering understanding of the dynamic processing of ads featuring in-group and out-group members, and practical implications.

Notes

1. MTurk has been reported as more demographically diverse than college student samples (Buhrmester, Kwang, and Gosling 2011; Minton 2015). A recent Journal of Advertising article also empirically tested the quality of experimental advertising data collected from MTurk against data collected from professional panels and student samples in controlled (i.e., lab) and uncontrolled settings. This study found that MTurk data collected during theory-driven advertising experiments were superior to data collected from professional panels and from student samples in uncontrolled settings (Kees et al. 2017). Specifically, Kees and colleagues (2017) found that, compared to the other samples tested, MTurk respondents were more involved in processing ads, reported less multitasking, performed better on attention-check questions, and wrote more text in responses to open-ended questions.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Glenna L. Read

Glenna L. Read (MA, Appalachian State University) is a doctoral candidate, The Media School, Indiana University–Bloomington.

Irene I. van Driel

Irene I. van Driel (PhD, Indiana University) is a visiting instructor, Department of Strategic Communication, Butler University.

Robert F. Potter

Robert F. Potter (PhD, Indiana University) is a professor, The Media School, Indiana University–Bloomington.