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Sexual orientation unconsciously affects our impressions of others, Canadian study suggests

Date:
September 3, 2011
Source:
University of Toronto
Summary:
Studies by psychologists in Canada reveal that when it comes to white men, being straight may make you more likable but in the case of black men, gays have a likability edge.
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Studies by psychologists at the University of Toronto reveal that when it comes to white men, being straight may make you more likable but in the case of black men, gays have a likability edge.

In one study, 22 women and nine men viewed 104 photos of straight and gay black and white males and rated their likeability on a scale of one (not likable) to seven (extremely likable). Participants were not informed that some of the men pictured were gay. While overall, white straight men were rated as more likable than white gay men, black men were rated in the opposite manner: gay blacks were more likable than straight black men.

"We observed that people judge others based on sexual orientation even if they are not consciously aware of whether someone is gay or straight," said doctoral student Jessica Remedios, lead author. "By understanding how sexual orientation affects the rapid evaluations we form about others, we can learn more about predicting and minimizing the negative consequences of homophobia."

In a second study, 36 women and 14 men were divided into groups to view the same 104 photos. One group was instructed to approach whites and avoid blacks by pulling a joystick toward them when a white face appears and pushing the joystick away when a black face appears; the other group was instructed vice versa, to approach blacks and avoid whites. Among participants approaching whites, the responses were faster for the straight men than for the gay. Among participants approaching blacks, however, responses were faster for gay than straight men. "Given that faster approach responses indicate greater positivity toward stimuli, the second study is consistent with the liking expressed in the first study," says Remedios.

"These findings suggest that sexual orientation, despite lacking explicit perceptual markers, infiltrates the automatic impression that is formed. Further, our judgment of gay men depends on whether they are white or black."


Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Toronto. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. Jessica D. Remedios, Alison L. Chasteen, Nicholas O. Rule, Jason E. Plaks. Impressions at the intersection of ambiguous and obvious social categories: Does gay + Black = likable? Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 2011; 47 (6): 1312 DOI: 10.1016/j.jesp.2011.05.015

Cite This Page:

University of Toronto. "Sexual orientation unconsciously affects our impressions of others, Canadian study suggests." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 3 September 2011. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110902110146.htm>.
University of Toronto. (2011, September 3). Sexual orientation unconsciously affects our impressions of others, Canadian study suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 19, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110902110146.htm
University of Toronto. "Sexual orientation unconsciously affects our impressions of others, Canadian study suggests." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/09/110902110146.htm (accessed March 19, 2024).

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