A multidimensional approach to sexual prejudice: Examining the unique roles of moral disapproval and outgroup antipathy

Abstract

We conceptualize sexual prejudice (i.e., prejudice toward gay/lesbian people) as including two related but distinct individual difference components – moral disapproval and outgroup antipathy. Whereas moral disapproval concerns the perceived wrongness of gay/lesbian sexuality, outgroup antipathy concerns negative evaluations of gay/lesbian individuals. Confirmatory factor analysis supports this two-factor structure. In undergraduate and nationally representative samples, we demonstrate that moral disapproval relates to higher religiosity (Studies 1a-1b), whereas outgroup antipathy relates to generalized and racial prejudice (Study 2). Further, outgroup contact predicts reductions in antipathy throughout college students' first semester, whereas religious sources contribute to moral disapproval across the semester (Study 3). Finally, moral disapproval relates to negativity toward sexually active single targets regardless of sexual orientation, whereas outgroup antipathy relates to negativity toward gay/lesbian targets regardless of sexual behavior (Study 4). These findings highlight the benefits of considering moral disapproval and outgroup antipathy separately.