Internalized Homophobia In Relation To Attitudes and Perceptions of Gay Men toward Gay Men

Abstract

The present study aims to examine how gay men view and perceive someone based upon the suggesting of either a gay or straight sexual orientation in relation to internalized homophobia. One-hundred and twenty-four gay men read a vignette alluding to a stimulus individual as either gay or straight and then watched a video of the stimulus individual. The participants then rated the stimulus individual on sociometric and stereotypic scales. Finally, they filled out a measure of internalized homophobia, the Nungesser Homosexuality Attitudes Inventory (NHAI). The data indicate that the suggestion of homosexuality and an individual’s level of internalized homophobia does not have a significant impact on how gay men view other gay men. Limitations for the generality of these findings are discussed.