1,721,107 research outputs found
Enhancing masculinity by slandering homosexuals: The role of homophobic epithets in heterosexual gender identity
No full textWe investigate the effects of homophobic labels on the self-perception of heterosexual
males, hypothesizing that, when exposed to homophobic epithets, they are motivated to underline
their masculinity and claim a distinctly heterosexual identity by taking distance from homosexuals
and, to a lesser degree, from women. Heterosexual male participants were subliminally (Study 1)
and supraliminally primed (Study 2) either by a homophobic epithet or by a category label, and
completed the Traditional Beliefs about Gender and Gender Identity scale. Participants stressed
their heterosexual identity, but not their gender distinctiveness, when exposed to homophobic
epithets, compared to category labels. Study 2, demonstrated that the relation between the
homophobic label and the participants’ heterosexual identity was mediated by how negatively they
reacted to the anti-gay label. Heterosexual identity was enhanced in reaction to homophobic labels,
but not to an equally derogatory label referring to regional identity. Results are discussed within an
intergroup framework
Instagram Sexualization: When posts make you feel dissatisfied and wanting to change your body
Full text linkInstagram is a visually centered social media that involves the presence of sexualized imagery posted by users. Such Instagram sexualization may have a negative impact on women's body image. The present study examined whether exposure to Instagram sexualization, namely posts of sexualized women along with appearance-related comments, affected women's body satisfaction and cosmetic surgery intentions. In doing so, it also considered the moderating role of Instagram Addiction Proclivity (IAP). Young Italian female participants (N = 247) were randomly exposed to one of four video conditions resulting from the combination of either sexualized or non-sexualized women's pictures on Instagram, paired with appearance or neutral comments. In the sexualized picture condition participants’ body dissatisfaction increased compared to pre-exposure levels and to the non-sexualized picture condition. The type of comments did not affect participants’ body satisfaction. Moreover, IAP predicted cosmetic surgery intentions and moderated their reactions to Instagram content. Indeed, the higher the IAP, the higher the cosmetic surgery intentions of participants viewing sexualized pictures with neutral comments and non-sexualized pictures with body appearance comments. These findings suggest that female Instagram users should be aware of the negative impacts of viewing sexualized imagery as well as the role that IAP may play
Media representation matters: The effects of exposure to counter-stereotypical gay male characters on heterosexual men’s expressions of discrimination
No full textPresence of gay men in mainstream media may have a positive impact on viewers’ attitude change. However, gay male characters are often stereotypically portrayed as feminine, and no research has explored yet audiences’ reactions to counter-stereotypical gay characters. Heterosexual Italian men (N = 158) were exposed to a clip portraying (i) a stereotypical feminine gay male character, (ii) a counter-stereotypical masculine gay male character, or (iii) a nature documentary. Compared to the other conditions, exposure to the counter-stereotypical gay character increased discrimination toward gay men, in the form of anti-gay jokes, the higher the level of participants’ prejudice against gay men. Results further demonstrated that this effect was explained by reduced perceived stereotypicality of the character. Findings are in line with the social identity theory prediction that when gay men (out-group) are perceived as too similar, and potentially threaten the group identity, heterosexual men would attempt to restore in-group distinctiveness
La mangio o non la mangio l’ultima fetta? Il caso della Social Mindfulness come processo decisionale.
Full text linkThe Social Costs of Sounding Gay: Voice-Based Impressions of Adoption Applicants
Full text linkIn three studies (total N = 239) we examined the unexplored question of whether voice conveying sexual orientation elicits stigma and discrimination in the context of adoption. Studies 1 and 2 were conducted in Italy where same-sex adoption is illegal and controversial. Study 3 was conducted in the United Kingdom where same-sex adoption is legal and generally more accepted. The three studies show that listeners draw strong inferences from voice when judging hypothetical adoption seekers. Both Italian and British listeners judged gay-sounding speakers as warmer and as having better parenting skills, yet Italian participants consistently preferred straight over gay-sounding applicants, whereas British participants showed an opposite tendency, presumably reflecting the different normative context in the two countries. We conclude that vocal cues may have culturally distinct effects on judgment and decision making and that people with gay-sounding voices may face discrimination in adoption procedures in countries with antigay norms
Gay Voice: Stable Marker of Sexual Orientation or Flexible Communication Device?
Full text linkListeners rely on vocal features when guessing others’ sexual orientation. What is less clear is whether speakers modulate their voice to emphasize or to conceal their sexual orientation. We hypothesized that gay individuals adapt their voices to the social context, either emphasizing or disguising their sexual orientation. In Study 1 (n = 20 speakers, n = 383 Italian listeners and n = 373 British listeners), using a simulated conversation paradigm, we found that gay speakers modulated their voices depending on the interlocutor, sounding more gay when speaking to a person with whom they have had an easy (vs. difficult or no) coming out. Although straight speakers were always clearly perceived as heterosexual, their voice perception also varied depending on the interlocutor. Study 2 (n = 14 speakers and n = 309 listeners), comparing the voices of young YouTubers before and after their public coming out, showed a voice modulation as a function of coming out. The voices of gay YouTubers sounded more gay after coming out, whereas those of age-matched straight control male speakers sounded increasingly heterosexual over time. Combining experimental and archival methods, this research suggests that gay speakers modulate their voices flexibly depending on their relation with the interlocutor and as a consequence of their public coming out
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Full text linkThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
I feel your eyes on me: How perceived control affects self-objectification and body consciousness in women
No full textBeing targets of an "objectifying gaze" increases women's objectified body consciousness and self-objectification. Little is known about what can protect women from such effects. Here we investigated the role of perceived personal and interpersonal control. Study 1 examined the relations between personal and interpersonal control with self-objectification and the dimensions of the objectified body consciousness. Results showed that personal control was negatively correlated with body shame and positively with body control beliefs. Study 2 tested whether recalling a situation of perceived control would reduce the negative effects of experiencing an objectifying gaze. Results showed that being target of an objectifying gaze elicited higher self-objectification, body surveillance and body shame in women. These effects were not attenuated by recalling of being in control. Still, personal control was positively correlated with body control beliefs but negatively related with body surveillance. Altogether these preliminary findings suggest that the perception of personal control could protect women from engaging in negative self-evaluations and appearance-related behaviours. Future interventions could aim to strengthen the power women perceive to have and hence reduce the negative impact of sexual objectification
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