Fall 2009 » Research Briefs » Disgust, Not Fear, Drives Homophobia

Disgust, Not Fear, Drives Homophobia

March, 2009

Psychologists have determined that homophobia is not an actual phobia. Their recent study indicates that the condition arises out of feelings of disgust, not from fear or anxiety as true phobias do. Their findings also suggest close associations between homophobic tendencies and concerns about contamination as well as conservative views about sexuality in general.

Professor of psychology Jeff Lohr and graduate students Bunmi Olatunji and Suzanne Meunier asked 138 participants to complete a series of surveys, which assessed their attitudes about homosexuality and sexuality in general and which measured their levels of disgust as well as their levels of fear or anxiety. Partici-pants answered an additional questionnaire that measured contamination obsessions.

According to the researchers, statistical analysis of the results showed a negative correlation between homophobic tendencies and levels of fear or anxiety-indicating that homophobia cannot be considered a true phobia. The findings suggest a social, attitudinal basis for the condition, rather than a psychopathological one, as the term homophobia implies.

"If you can identify the underlying emotions of certain attitudes and behaviors, you can better understand how those attitudes formed," explained Olatunji. "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."

Distinguishing which emotions feed into conditions such as homophobia may enable people to intervene before negative attitudes evolve into negative behavior, said Lohr. "If fear mediates avoidance, other emotions may mediate attack," he cautioned.