Journal article
Not "just words": Exposure to homophobic epithets leads to dehumanizing and physical distancing from gay men
Fabio Fasoli, Maria Paola Paladino, Andrea Carnaghi, Jolanda Jetten, Brock Bastian, Paul G Bain
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY | WILEY | Published : 2016
DOI: 10.1002/ejsp.2148
Abstract
We examined whether homophobic epithets (e.g., faggot) function as labels of deviance for homosexuals that contribute to their dehumanization and physical distance. Across two studies, participants were supraliminally (Study 1) and subliminally (Study 2) exposed to a homophobic epithet, a category label, or a generic insult. Participants were then asked to associate human-related and animal-related words to homosexuals and heterosexuals. Results showed that after exposure to a homophobic epithet, compared with a category label or a generic insult, participants associated less human-related words with homosexuals, indicating dehumanization. In Study 2, we also assessed the effect of a homopho..
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