Premium
In Search of the Defensive Function of Sexual Prejudice: Exploring Antigay Bias Through Shorter and Longer Lead Startle Eye Blink
Author(s) -
Mahaffey Amanda L.,
Bryan Angela D.,
Ito Tiffany A.,
Hutchison Kent E.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of applied social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.822
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1559-1816
pISSN - 0021-9029
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-1816.2010.00700.x
Subject(s) - psychology , prejudice (legal term) , social psychology , function (biology) , human sexuality , unconscious mind , psychoanalysis , gender studies , sociology , evolutionary biology , biology
To explore the theory that some men experience antigay bias because of a defensive reaction to uncertainties surrounding their own sexuality (cf. Herek, 1987), we conducted a study ( n = 132 men) in which we physiologically measured the affective underpinnings of antigay bias while individuals with different levels of self‐reported bias viewed sexually explicit material. Those higher in antigay bias exhibited less positive affect than did others, but did not appear to experience a defensive reaction. Given these results, combined with those of our previous studies, we conclude that evidence for the existence of a group of men who exhibit antigay bias because of a hidden or unconscious attraction toward men is difficult to demonstrate using current methodology.