Not “just words”: Exposure to homophobic epithets leads to dehumanizing and physical distancing from gay men |
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| Authors: | Fabio Fasoli Maria Paola Paladino Andrea Carnaghi Jolanda Jetten Brock Bastian Paul G Bain |
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| Institution: | 1. Centro de Investiga??o e Interven??o Social, Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal;2. Department of Psychology and Cognitive Science, University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy;3. Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy;4. School of Psychology, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Brisbane, Australia;5. School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia;6. School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia |
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| 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 homophobic epithet on physical distance from a target group member and found that homophobic epithets led to greater physical distancing of a gay man. These findings indicate that homophobic epithets foster dehumanization and avoidance of gay people, in ways that other insults or labels do not. |
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| Keywords: | derogatory labels deviance dehumanization homophobia physical distance |
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