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World National |
Study: Homophobia is not a phobiaSUMMARY: Homophobia is a misnomer, according to a group of U.S. psychologists. Homophobia is a misnomer, according to a group of U.S. psychologists. The psychologists from the University of Arkansas claim that homophobia is not an actual phobia because it's caused by disgust, not fear or anxiety.
The 138 study participants were asked to complete a series of surveys, including: the Index of Attitudes Toward Homosexuals (IAH), which measures homophobia; the Sexual Attitude Scale, which explores what people think about human sexuality; the Disgust Emotion Scale, which measures a person's response level in terms of disgust; and the Padua Inventory, which assesses contamination obsessions, reports HealthScout. The participants also answered questions designed to measure levels of fear and anxiety. According to the study, people who showed homophobic tendencies on the IAH also displayed conservative sexual attitudes, along with elevated levels of disgust and dread of contamination. The findings suggest that social conditions and attitudes, not psychological factors, create homophobia, the researchers said. In other words, homophobia is closer to racism than it is to a phobia. Regarding treatment for homophobia, the study's authors recommended altering social conditioning in homes and schools. The research was presented at the American Psychological Society convention in New Orleans last weekend. |
