Study: Homophobic people likely repressing homosexual attraction

[LynneSin]

Study: Homophobic people likely repressing homosexual attraction


http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/04/09/study-homophobic-people-likely-repressing-homosexual-attraction/

People who have negative feelings toward homosexuality often have secret attractions to the same sex — and are more likely to have grown up in households that forbid homosexual feelings, according to a recent study.

A research team from the University of Rochester, the University of Essex, England, and the University of California in Santa Barbara found that “[h]omophobia is more pronounced in individuals with an unacknowledged attraction to the same sex and who grew up with authoritarian parents who forbade such desires.”

“Individuals who identify as straight but in psychological tests show a strong attraction to the same sex may be threatened by gays and lesbians because homosexuals remind them of similar tendencies within themselves,” the study’s lead author, Netta Weinstein, explained.


“In many cases these are people who are at war with themselves and they are turning this internal conflict outward,” co-author Richard Ryan added.

I always thought Santorum had a hidden secret!

[sakabatou]

1. Next stop on the obvious train...

[Daniel537]

2. I was going to mention Ted Haggard, but i forgot

He's "cured" now.

[SidDithers]

3. Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar...

And sometimes a homophobic bigot is just a homophobic bigot.

Sid

[zappaman]

7. True, but sometimes a cigar is actually a penis

At least that's what I see everytime I see this pic...

[DisgustipatedinCA]

11. And sometimes, peer reviewed studies get it just right

[Cleita]

4. I believe it. I think they have a secret fear of being "converted". n/t

[Yavin4]

5. Hmmmm

[bayareamike]

13. LOL n/t

[Ohio Joe]

6. I'm not one bit surprised

I can't even imagine what it must be like when society condemns you for the way you are born.

[Mist]

8. Did a "study" need to be made to arrive at this conclusion? nt

[RZM]

9. That does make sense, but a problem is that people tend to over-apply this type of thing

And think that every homophone is a potential closet case. While I have no reason to doubt the findings, I imagine such homophobes are a very small percentage of the overall homophobic population.

My theory has always been that male homophobia is very much rooted in a biological aversion to homosexual contact. That's probably far more common than the phenomenon described here, perhaps by a factor of many thousands. I actually believe that the societal prejudice against homosexuality largely stems from this biological aversion.

I actually feel this personal aversion myself, though it was much more pronounced when I was younger. Back then, the thought of engaging in sexual contact with a man made me feel nervous and uncomfortable - what probably amounted to a mini-panic attack. The difference is, of course, that I never let that influence my opinion of the behavior of others. I understood that while it wasn't something I wanted to do, others were different and I never believed that my personal preferences should have any bearing on what others do, especially since I have always believed that homosexuality is an inherited trait.

[Doremus]

19. Sounds like general sexual insecurity, imo.

Why would one be thinking about engaging in sexual contact with a person of the same sex to the point of giving oneself a mini-panic attack in the first place?

Having sex with another female isn't my cuppa either, but the thought of it doesn't give me the heebee jeebees, nor have I or would I dwell on it to the point of panic attack.

For whatever it's worth.

[RZM]

21. It's not like I would spend all day thinking about it

I dont like the idea of drowning or losing my significant other either, but those thoughts do enter my head sometimes.

[Doremus]

22. If the thought of drowning gives you a panic attack, that is a phobia.

You said the thought of having sex with someone of the same sex gave you a near panic attack.

That is a phobia.

Typical 'dislike' of something doesn't cause one to have panic attacks.

[RZM]

23. I did say 'mini'

Look, all I'm saying is that it would make me feel uncomfortable. I believe there are others who would get the same reaction if they thought about it. That was my point.

[Doremus]

24. I hear what you're saying but

you said: "My theory has always been that male homophobia is very much rooted in a biological aversion to homosexual contact."

You're trying to downplay homophobia as something that's natural or innate in the male psyche.

I'm sure many more would disagree with that sentiment than agree, including myself.

[RZM]

25. That is what I believe

Though I don't consider it to be a 'downplay.' I believe that the societal prejudices against homosexuality are partly rooted in that.

[longship]

12. Rachel Maddow on George Rekers

The best ever take down of these hypocrites.

Google it, watch it.

Come out; come out; wherever you are.

Brilliant.

If it works, here's the link:
" target="_blank">Maddow George Rekers Take Down

Link didn't work -- gotta fix that DU geeks, ever heard of regular expressions? Nevermind, Google it and watch.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. I've always wondered if people who insist that homosexuality is a choice

are bisexuals who actually have chosen to repress one side of their nature.

[Zax2me]

15. "He must be gay' response to anti-homosexuals is self-defeating.

It's almost enforcing the notion that being gay is something to be made fun of.
Like 'That's so gay" comment, which grates me to no end.

[Tikki]

16. This is probably true in a certain amount....

and then there are those people where they talk about sex all the time because sex...
any kind of sex...consumes nearly all their thoughts, all the time.




Tikki

[eek MD]

17. Homophobia is learned behavior....

Or at least some of the time, it's learned behavior. How do I know this? By growing up in a house with rabidly homophobic parents in an isolated rural environment with no (openly) gay people around. I feel ashamed to admit it, but up until the early years of High school, I was homophobic. After I moved off to the big city, dropped the religion that had been forced onto me, and started thinking for myself, I changed.

I've spent many many years reflecting on how I could have been such an idiot. My guess is that some people just can't bring themselves to admit that they might be wrong about things and change their minds. I am straight, by the way....but wouldn't have a problem admitting it if I was gay (now).

[LynneSin]

26. I can agree with that because honestly, it was a behavior I had to unlearn

I grew up in a rural part of Pennsylvania so homophobia was taught very early and often. Honestly, I just thought that was the norm that someone having sex with someone of their own sex was bad. Ironically it wasn't the church I attended that taught me that ( i probably went to one of the more progressive churches in the county, at least progressive for where I lived).

It wasn't until I started working and I made it a point to find jobs outside of the county where I lived (Cumberland or Dauphin - which was Harrisburg PA and the suburbs).

I remember the first girl that questioned my way of thinking. I had found out that there was a gay couple working in our area. Honestly I thought they were roommates and both guys were very nice to me and helpful as I learned the job. So yes I was kinda freaked out when I heard they were a couple. I never said anything rude to either of them but I guess I shyed away from hanging around them. Another girl on the team was the one that opened my eyes though - she asked me how I could think any less of 2 people who were extremely helpful in training me on my job and being my friend simply because of their sexual orientation. She called me stupid for my closed-minded thinking and said that if I wanted to survive in the real world I needed to learn to accept people for who they were. These two guys never changed my sexual orientation nor had they ever done a cruel thing to me whatsoever.

That girl was a bit mean to me when she said it but honestly it was the biggest wake up call EVER! And to this day I thank her for making me recognize that yes, at one time I was homophobic and I could not find out one reason why I was homophobic other than a bunch of other homophobics that I went to school with told me that it was ok to be that way.

I'd like to think that 25+ years later I've evolved alot from that silly child I use to be, thank goodness! And yes, I did apologize to those 2 guys. Took me about 3 weeks to work up the courage and it made me realize that those 2 guys had way more class, respect and diginity then all those homophobic assholes I went to high school combined!

[Typical NYC Lib]

18. This is news?

I remember reading articles about this in the mid-90s!

[slampoet]

20. "omophobia" how the British say it.