Perceptions of Positive Relationship Traits in Gay and Lesbian Couples

Abstract

The current research examined perceptions of positive traits in homosexual relationships. Students (n = 216) and professional counselors (n = 96) read one of three variations of a transcript of a couple's counseling session that were identical in all aspects except for the names of the couple members, which implied sexual orientation (either John and Amy, Amy and Jennifer, or John and David). Participants then rated the couple's level of commitment, satisfaction, investment, and closeness. Surprisingly, the student group perceived no differences between the couples, but the counselor group perceived the gay and lesbian couples as having higher levels of the positive relationship traits. Implications regarding counselor bias are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• romantic relationship
• commitment
• satisfaction
• investment
• closeness
• gay
• lesbian
• counselors

The authors would like to thank Mary Pritchard, Ph.D., for her help in reading an earlier draft of this work.

Miki Skinner is now at the Department of Educational Psychology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.