Consequences of (non) disclosure of homosexuality and sexual prejudice: The point of view of homosexuals

• Author(s): Venâncio, Joana ; Costa, Daniel
• Date: 2012
• Origin: Revista Psicologia
• Subject(s): -
• Document Type: Journal article
• Language: Portuguese

Description

The study examines homosexuals’ representation of the way gay men are perceived by the population in general, and the relationship between this representation and the perception of the consequences of disclosing or concealing homosexuality. Results indicate that respondents view as little probable that gay men who disclose their sexual orientation experiment negative feelings and that gay men who conceal homosexuality be discriminated. They perceive as low heterosexuals’ levels of prejudice and of motivation to respond without prejudice. Contrary to our expectative, the consequences of disclosing homosexuality are not related with the perceived levels of homophobia but with the perception of the motivation to respond without prejudice, higher levels of internal motivation being related with the perception of a lower probability that gay men who disclose homosexuality suffer discrimination. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v26i1.261 The study examines homosexuals’ representation of the way gay men are perceived by the population in general, and the relationship between this representation and the perception of the consequences of disclosing or concealing homosexuality. Results indicate that respondents view as little probable that gay men who disclose their sexual orientation experiment negative feelings and that gay men who conceal homosexuality be discriminated. They perceive as low heterosexuals’ levels of prejudice and of motivation to respond without prejudice. Contrary to our expectative, the consequences of disclosing homosexuality are not related with the perceived levels of homophobia but with the perception of the motivation to respond without prejudice, higher levels of internal motivation being related with the perception of a lower probability that gay men who disclose homosexuality suffer discrimination.

O estudo examina a representação dos/as homossexuais na forma como os homens gays são percepcionados pela população em geral e a relação entre esta representação e a percepção das consequências de revelar ou não a homossexualidade. Os resultados indicam que os/as respondentes julgam pouco provável que os homossexuais assumidos experimentem sentimentos negativos e que os homossexuais não assumidos sejam discriminados. Adicionalmente percepcionam como fracos os níveis de preconceito e de motivação das pessoas heterossexuais para responder sem preconceito. Ao contrário do esperado, as consequências da revelação da homossexualidade não estão relacionadas com os níveis de preconceito percepcionados mas com a percepção da motivação para responder de forma não preconceituosa, estando uma maior motivação de fonte interna relacionada com uma menor probabilidade dos homossexuais assumidos serem discriminados. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17575/rpsicol.v26i1.261