Posted on 06/08/2002 3:48:34 PM PDT by Clara Lou
NEW ORLEANS -- Homophobia is not an actual phobia, according to three University of Arkansas psychologists. In a recent study, these researchers showed that homophobia originates not out of fear or anxiety -- as true phobias do -- but from feelings of disgust.
The UA researchers also found close associations between homophobic tendencies and concerns about contamination as well as conservative views about sexuality in general. Their findings suggest a social, attitudinal basis for homophobia rather than a psychopathological one, as the term itself implies.
"If you can identify the underlying emotions of certain attitudes and behaviors, you can better understand how those attitudes formed," explained Bunmi Olatunji, a UA doctoral student and lead author of the study. "That has implications for treatment, but it also enables you to consider a condition in the proper context. In this case, homophobia shouldn't be pathologized."
With the help of various graduate students, Jeffrey Lohr, a professor of psychology at the university, has spent the past several years attempting to identify the emotional mediators behind a variety of phobias, including fears about blood injection or injury and spider or insect phobias.
The study on homophobia -- conducted by Olatunji and Suzanne Meunier, a doctoral student -- represents the latest chapter in that program of research. On Sunday, Olatunji will present the findings of their study at a convention of the American Psychological Society in New Orleans.
To assess the emotional constructs behind homophobia, the UA researchers asked 138 participants to complete a series of surveys. These included the Index of Attitudes toward homosexuals, the Sexual Attitude Scale, the Disgust Emotion Scale, the Padua Inventory -- which assesses contamination obsessions -- and three questionnaires that measured levels of fear and anxiety.
Statistical analysis of the results showed a negative correlation between attitudes about homosexuals and measures of fear or anxiety. However, results from the Index of Attitudes toward homosexuals were positively correlated with results from the Sexual Attitude Scale, the Disgust Emotion Scale and the Padua Inventory. In other words, subjects who showed homophobic tendencies on the Index also displayed conservative sexual attitudes, elevated levels of disgust and dread of contamination.
"We included the Padua Inventory because fear of contamination clarifies the type of disgust that people are feeling. Without information about contamination fears, you could assume that homophobic people were just disgusted by the abnormality of the homosexual lifestyle," Olatunji said. "But this tells us there's a perception of contagion that feeds into homophobia."
The purpose of identifying such specific emotional components is not just to quibble with use of the term "homophobia" but to understand the origin and nature of the condition. For example, fear and disgust tend to arise out of different circumstances or contexts, and they manifest in very different ways.
Fear causes immediate physiological arousal, leading to elevated respiration and heart rate, and it inspires a flight reaction. Disgust, however, triggers a bi-phasic physiological reaction, with heart rate and respiration initially rising but plummeting shortly thereafter. While fear causes a "get me away from that" reaction, disgust manifests as "get that away from me." These different emotional reactions can lead to very different behaviors, according to Lohr.
"The same emotions that mediate attitude can mediate behavior," he said. "If fear mediates avoidance, other emotions may mediate attack. That distinction becomes very important when what a person intends to avoid or attack is not an animal or an inanimate object, but another human being."
Additionally, different emotional constructs require different approaches to treatment. Clinical psychologists often treat true phobias by forcing patients to confront their fears. Flooding -- or prolonged, repeated exposure to the feared stimulus -- can weaken the fear response and allow people to practice controlling their reactions. But such a procedure may not be effective in eliminating disgust and, furthermore, would be inappropriate if the object of that disgust is another person.
Lohr suspects that the type of disgust associated with homophobia arises from social conditions rather than psychological ones -- that it represents a prejudicial attitude more akin to racism than to phobia. If that's the case, any attempt to treat or reduce homophobia would have to be conducted through a process of attitude reformation, which could occur in a social context such as homes or schools rather than in a clinical setting.
"If contempt and disgust drive homophobia, then it seems more of a moral or social problem than a psychopathological one," Lohr said. "If we start to consider negative attitudes pathological -- implying that there's something medically wrong with prejudiced people, that they're somehow sick with their own attitudes -- that seems to me misguided."
Then you will be contradicted. First of all, I know of no Christian who has the almost Stalanist contempt for their counterparts that you have. Secondly, by acting as you do, do you hope to attract others? Do you think people will think, "Hey, this John seems pretty happy and secure as an atheist - I think I'll check it out"?
I would go on but I see that no one here is really challenging my assumption that no such gene exists. If anyone might be thinking that it exists, bear in mind that the original Canadien researcher that brought the "Gay Gene," to light has said HIMSELF that genetics is only one of MANY factors. Also, no one else has been able to duplicate his findings.
Yet, the "Gay Gene," theory is taught as FACT in the classrooms and is believed to be gospel by the Liberal elites. I think I recall that at the world conference of Psychiatry, a group of people who proposed that there was no gay gene was booed off the stage. This is from so called Scientists. I LOVE the field of psychology(Psychiatry too.) but I have to say that most of them are the dumbest people on the planet and an affront to modern science.
I will also say that this is probably the reason why the "Hard" science community holds them in such contempt. I hold them in contempt, and I wish the world would as well. Which is my mission. :D
Is this one of those "my dog is bigger than your dog" go rounds?
What kind of double talk is that?
What is an "actual" phobia?
I don't have a dog, 2 cats.
I'm pointing out that you go out of your way to initiate flames against Christians.
It sure doesn't demonstrate much candle power in the old lantern either.
I'm glad to see the emotions and moral convictions one feels for this sin described correctly! About time!
Love the sinner.. hate the sin.
this is more of the attempt of the left to group those who disagree with homosexuality with racists.
these simple idiots should have figured out this: minority groups also do not care to deal with homosexuality as legitimate.
I did not want to act as a primer for but I will...
Ok, There are genetic factors involved in everything. Also, one of the most basic questions of ancient philosophy was "Nature VS. Nurture." I think I can illustrate my point by the study of the "Aggression" gene.
I do not have my source material available but if you do not believe my post, I can supply it at a later date. Scientists isolated a gene that they believed caused aggression. As a matter of fact, it WAS the seat of aggression. So, they theorized that violent criminals MUST have this gene so they began a decade long sociological study.
The results of this study were strange, it turned out that the "Violence" gene(As it was originally called, I changed it to agrresive.) did not neccesarily produce violent people. A lot of the people worked in action packed careers that HELPED people. MIlitary, Swat Teams, Firefighters, etc. There were even passionate Pundits, religous leaders and charismatic group leaders. These people HELPED others.
The thing is, people with this gene are more PRONE to act aggresively. However, their upbringing was the determinative factor almost overwhelmingly! People with this gene could be beaten down by repressive parents and have thier confidence destroyed, only it was a little more difficult to do so.
On the flip side, under proper conditioning, people without this gene could be turned into violent sociopaths. Do you get my point?
Genetics ALWAYS play a part, but we are thinking animals and have the abilty to change our environment AND our behavior. For some, certain things are easy, for others; they are difficult.
We are not base animals, we can think conceptually and in a way re-make our world... or at the very least our perception of it. We are the only animals that can think in an abstract way(That has been proven conclusively at least.) and have some measure of control over our genetic structure.
Take bodybuilding, some are genetic wonders and get huge with basic training. Some are "Hard-Gainers," and have to work twice as hard. Do some "Hard-Gainers," acheive bodybuilding greatness, of course! We are not SLAVES to our genes.
Is that enough?
Homophobia is a made up term that implies people that do not approve of homosexuals are mentally unbalanced.
Look, I dont approve of homosexuality, but why should anyone care? I have many homosexual customers that I treat just as good as my regular customers. If I had a real phobia, I would not be able to deal with them. I am sure THEY do not approve of the GOP... are they GOPaphobes?
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