Speaker attitude as a predictive factor in listener perception of gay men’s speech

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 206-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen L. Mann
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Predictive Factor ◽  
American English ◽  
Social Practices ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Gay Male ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Language Perception

Research on listener identification of sexual orientation (e.g., Gaudio 1994, Piccolo 2008) has produced conflicting results. I argue that one contributing factor to linguistic perception of sexual orientation is the speaker’s assumptions about gay male ways of speaking American English or about specific linguistic features that the speaker believes listeners will associate with “sounding gay” in American English. Interviews I conducted with eight gay men highlight the ways in which positive and negative attitudes become realized in discourse about sounding gay or gay male ways of speaking and its link to other social practices. I then present results from a language perception study, which suggest that negative attitudes toward sounding gay decrease the possibility that a speaker will use linguistic features associated with sounding gay and will, as a result, be less likely to be perceived as gay than gay men who hold positive attitudes toward sounding gay.

Collegiate coach attitudes towards lesbians and gay men

2020 ◽  
pp. 174795412097713
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M Mullin ◽  
Sarah Cook
Keyword(s):  
Gay Men ◽  
Ncaa Division I ◽  
National Collegiate Athletic Association ◽  
Division I ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Male Athletes ◽  
Lesbian And Gay ◽  
Gay Male ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Demographic Questionnaire

The purpose of the current study was to examine attitudes towards lesbians and gay men among National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I, II, and III coaches. Coaches ( N = 290) from NCAA Division I (21%), II (22%), and III (56%) member institutions representing 31 different sports completed the Attitudes towards Lesbians and Gay Men scale and a demographic questionnaire. Overall, coaches reported generally positive attitudes towards lesbians and gay men. No significant gender x division interaction was found with respect towards attitudes towards lesbians and gay men, Pillai’s Trace = .023, F(4, 494) = 1.419, p = .227, ηp 2  = .011. Male coaches reported significantly more negative attitudes than female coaches, Pillai’s Trace = .046, F(2, 247) = 5.92, p = .003, ηp 2  = .046. When examining differences in age, older coaches (50 and older) reported significantly more negative attitudes than 30-39 and 40-49-year-old coaches ( ps < .05). These findings add to the limited understanding of coach attitudes towards individuals who identify as lesbian or gay men. An understanding of attitudes provides the basis for positive change that can be translated into more inclusive behaviors to provide a better experience for lesbian and gay male athletes.

Intelligibility and attitudes

2013 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 177-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ying-Ying Tan ◽  
Christina Castelli
Keyword(s):  
East Asia ◽  
American English ◽  
Native English Speakers ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
South East Asia ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Sound Recordings ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Inferiority Complex ◽  
Inner Circle

This paper investigates international responses to Singapore English (SgE), in terms of both intelligibility and attitudes toward the speaker, and compares it to responses to American English (AmE). It surveys 200 respondents from over 20 countries as they listen to a set of 15 sound recordings, including read SgE, spontaneous SgE, and read AmE. The results suggest that the intelligibility of SgE and AmE does differ between informants from different regions. However, the intelligibility of the test stimuli does not correlate simply to positive and negative attitudes. While SgE elicits generally positive attitudes, what is interesting is that the judgments of respondents from South-East Asia and East Asia are often more negative than those of English speakers of Inner Circle varieties. This seems to suggest not only an impenetrable mindset of these traditionally “non-native” English speakers, who seem to be still clamoring to speak an idealized “standard”, but also an inferiority complex over their own varieties of English.

Confronting Heterosexism in the Teaching of Psychology

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 220-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane M. Simoni
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Current Psychology ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Psychological Issues ◽  
Lesbian And Gay ◽  
Gay Male ◽  
Teaching Of Psychology ◽  
Psychology Curriculum

Psychology is not immune from the biases of its cultural context, including the devaluation of homosexuality. Historically, the profession has pathologized nonheterosexual orientations and failed to cultivate an appreciation of and sensitivity toward diversity in sexual orientation. Part of the instructor's role is to challenge prevailing heterosexist assumptions and provide accurate information about the psychology of lesbians and gay men. This article presents a rationale for making the psychology curriculum more inclusive of lesbian and gay male issues. Results are presented from a survey of current psychology textbooks that indicate inadequate coverage and segregated treatment of the topic of homosexuality. Finally, suggestions are provided to instructors for expanding coverage of lesbian and gay male psychological issues and avoiding heterosexist bias.

scholarly journals The Role of Sexual Prejudice and Aetiology Beliefs on the Italians’ Attitudes towards Adoption by Same-Sex Couples

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Di Battista ◽  
Daniele Paolini ◽  
Monica Pivetti ◽  
Lucia Mongelli
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Sexual Prejudice ◽  
Gay And Lesbian ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Lesbian Couples ◽  
Same Sex Couples ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
The Relationship

Research found that those who believe sexual orientation is inborn have generally positive attitudes towards gay men and lesbians. However, other studies have also found that these beliefs could include negative eugenic ideas. This study aims to investigate the role of people&rsquo;s beliefs about the aetiology of sexual orientation on attitudes towards adoption for both gay and lesbian couples. We hypothesized that this relationship would be mediated by sexual prejudice. To test the predictions, 256 Italian heterosexual participants were asked to answer to a scale about their beliefs regarding the aetiology of sexual orientation, sexual prejudice, and attitudes towards adoption by same-sex couples. Results confirmed that the relationship between aetiology beliefs and adoption support was fully mediated by sexual prejudice. These investigation results suggest that the belief that sexual orientation is controllable may serve to justify one&rsquo;s prejudice and, in turn, result in a lower support for same-sex couples&rsquo; adoption.

Gay Straight Communication

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Fasoli
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Hate Speech ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Physical Distance ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Self Acceptance ◽  
And Bisexual ◽  
Private Matter ◽  
The One

Sexual orientation is a private matter that individuals can decide to disclose or conceal. Nevertheless, when interacting with others, people look for cues of sexual orientation. Hence, the person’s face, voice, or non-verbal behavior is taken as a cue revealing sexual orientation. As research on “gaydar” has shown, this detecting ability can sometimes be accurate or stereotype-based. Sometimes gay, lesbian, and bisexual people themselves intentionally communicate their sexual identity explicitly or through more subtle cues. Intentional or not, several cues are taken as communicating sexual orientation with the consequences of shaping interpersonal interactions. Identifying someone as gay or lesbian has several implications. On the one hand, it leads straight men and women to non-verbally behave differently than when interacting with other straight individuals (e.g., more physical distance, more self-touching). On the other hand, it also affects verbal communication (e.g., topics of conversation, questions, and statements). The harshest consequence is hate speech and homophobic language. Research has shown that being labeled as “faggot” or “dyke” not only negatively affects those who are the target of such verbal derogation but also negatively impacts on straight bystanders. Indeed, gay and lesbian targets of homophobic language report a lower level of well-being and self-acceptance, while being exposed to such language increases prejudice toward gay men and lesbians among straight people. In the case of straight men, the use of homophobic language is often associated with identity self-affirmation and self-presentation. Interestingly, a recent trend among gay people has been noticed: they use homophobic labels among them as a form of “reclaimed language,” meaning that these derogatory terms are used with a different intent and reframed in a more positive way. Moreover, communicating sexual orientation can increase self-acceptance, social support, and positive social comparison among gay men and lesbians and can also increase positive attitudes toward gay people, especially when it happens with friends and family members.

scholarly journals The Role of Sexual Prejudice and Aetiology Beliefs on the Italians’ Attitudes towards Adoption by Same-Sex Couples

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Di Battista ◽  
Daniele Paolini ◽  
Monica Pivetti ◽  
Lucia Mongelli
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Sexual Prejudice ◽  
Gay And Lesbian ◽  
Same Sex ◽  
Lesbian Couples ◽  
Same Sex Couples ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
The Relationship

Research found that those who believe sexual orientation is inborn have generally positive attitudes towards gay men and lesbians. However, other studies have also found that these beliefs could include negative eugenic ideas. This study aims to investigate the role of people&rsquo;s beliefs about the aetiology of sexual orientation on attitudes towards adoption for both gay and lesbian couples. We hypothesized that this relationship would be mediated by sexual prejudice. To test the predictions, 256 Italian heterosexual participants were asked to answer to a scale about their beliefs regarding the aetiology of sexual orientation, sexual prejudice, and attitudes towards adoption by same-sex couples. Results confirmed that the relationship between aetiology beliefs and adoption support was fully mediated by sexual prejudice. These investigation results suggest that the belief that sexual orientation is controllable may serve to justify one&rsquo;s prejudice and, in turn, result in a lower support for same-sex couples&rsquo; adoption.

Linguistic Diversity in Appalachia

2020 ◽  
Vol 95 (3) ◽  
pp. 297-320
Author(s):  
Frances Blanchette ◽  
Paul E. Reed ◽  
Erin Flannery ◽  
Carrie N. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Linguistic Diversity ◽  
Language Attitudes ◽  
American English ◽  
Semantic Interpretation ◽  
English Speakers ◽  
Rating Task ◽  
Appalachian Region ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
American English Speakers

This study investigates how American English speakers from within and outside the Appalachian region interpret negative auxiliary inversion (NAI). Previously observed in Appalachian and other English varieties, NAI has surface syntax similar to yes-no questions but receives a declarative interpretation (e.g., Didn’t everybody watch Superbowl 53, meaning ‘not everybody watched’). Previous work shows that NAI is associated with a reading in which some but not all people participated in an event, as opposed to one in which no one participated. Results from an interpretation task revealed that Appalachian participants tended to obtain the ‘not all’ and not the ‘no one’ reading for NAI. In contrast, non-Appalachian participants’ interpretations exhibited greater inter- and intraspeaker variability. Appalachian participants with more ‘not all’ interpretations reported positive attitudes toward NAI use, and they also distinguished between attested and unattested syntactic subject types (e.g., everybody, many people, *few people) in a naturalness rating task. Appalachian participants with more ‘no one’ interpretations had more negative attitudes toward NAI use and made no distinction between subject types. These results highlight how individuals from Appalachia interpret NAI differently than individuals from outside the region and suggest that language attitudes may impact semantic interpretation within a nonmainstream speaker group.

Recreational Sport Participant Attitudes toward Lesbians and Gay Men: An Exploratory Study of Participation, Religion, Socioeconomic Status, and Sexual Identity

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Austin R. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Sexual Orientation ◽  
Gay Men ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Roman Catholic ◽  
Statistical Testing ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Recreational Sport ◽  
Testing Procedures ◽  
Sport Participant

This exploratory study investigated attitudes toward gay men and lesbians among the general student population of a midsized university, paying special attention to differences in demographic measures and attitudes across campus recreational sport participants and nonparticipants. Specifically, the study sought to investigate differences in attitudes toward gay men and lesbians among the following groups: campus recreational sporting participants/nonparticipants, differing religious affiliations, socioeconomic status classifications, and participant self-identified sexual orientation. This study used a modified version of the Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men scale administered in person to acquire attitudinal scores and demographics of respondents. Multivariate analysis of variance statistical testing procedures were used, revealing significant differences in attitudes of campus recreational sport participants based on religion, and sexual orientation. Overall, participants who identified as Evangelical Christian held more negative attitudes toward nonnormative sexualities than Roman Catholic or nonreligious participants, and participants who identified as heterosexual held more negative attitudes than gay or lesbian participants.

Interculturalism and the Acceptance of Minority Groups

2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maykel Verkuyten ◽  
Kumar Yogeeswaran
Keyword(s):  
Minority Groups ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Survey Experiment ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Negative Attitudes ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Social Psychological Research ◽  
Using Data ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Situational Effect

Abstract. Multiculturalism has been criticized and rejected by an increasing number of politicians, and social psychological research has shown that it can lead to outgroup stereotyping, essentialist thinking, and negative attitudes. Interculturalism has been proposed as an alternative diversity ideology, but there is almost no systematic empirical evidence about the impact of interculturalism on the acceptance of migrants and minority groups. Using data from a survey experiment conducted in the Netherlands, we examined the situational effect of promoting interculturalism on acceptance. The results show that for liberals, but not for conservatives, interculturalism leads to more positive attitudes toward immigrant-origin groups and increased willingness to engage in contact, relative to multiculturalism.

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