TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - Homosexuality and pro-gay ideology as pathogens? Implications of a disease-spread lay model for understanding anti-gay behaviors
JO  - Personality and social psychology review
A1  - Filip-Crawford, Gabrielle
A1  - Neuberg, Steven L.
SP  - ePub
EP  - ePub
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - Negative behaviors targeting gay men and lesbians range from violent physical assault to casting a vote against gay marriage, with very different implications for those targeted. Existing accounts of such actions, however, are unable to differentially predict specific anti-gay behaviors, leaving a large theoretical hole in the literature and hindering the design of effective interventions. We propose (a) that many sexually prejudiced laypersons conceptualize homosexuality and pro-gay ideology as "contaminants" analogous to infectious pathogens and (b) that anti-gay behaviors can thus be viewed as strategic attempts to prevent, contain, treat, or eradicate the "pathogens" of homosexuality and pro-gay ideology. By considering analogues to disease-spread processes (e.g., susceptibility of specific subpopulations, inoculation procedures, prevalence in the local environment, interconnections among community members), we derive novel predictions regarding the incidence and nature of anti-gay behaviors and provide leverage for creating more tailored interventions to reduce such discrimination.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1088-8683
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1088868315601613
ID  - ref1
ER  -