Proximal and Distal Predictors of Homophobia: Exposing the Multivariate Roots of Outgroup Rejection

Citation

Agnew, Christopher R.; Thompson, Vaida D.; Smith, Valarie A.; Gramzow, Richard H.; & Currey, David P. (1994). Proximal and Distal Predictors of Homophobia: Exposing the Multivariate Roots of Outgroup Rejection. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 23, 2013-2042.

Abstract

A proximal‐distal theoretical framework was developed to examine the multivariate roots of homophobia. Using data from a sample of 288 undergraduates who had participated in a computer‐assisted panel study over a three‐year period, the effects on homophobia of distal and proximal family factors (e. g., parental education and family environment), distal and proximal individual factors (e. g., personality constructs and current beliefs), and proximal individual‐situational factors (e. g., acquaintance with homosexuals) were tested in regression analyses. Both analyses employing sets of variables varying in proximity to the homophobic attitude and hierarchical regression employing variables contributing significantly in each set supported the proposed framework. All sets predicted significantly when regressed separately on homophobia; the sets containing the distal factors contributed most weakly, and the sets containing the proximal factors contributed most strongly. In hierarchical regression analysis, this pattern maintained such that the incremental increase in r2 decreased with the addition of each more distal set, with the most distal factors failing to contribute significantly to the prediction. The importance of study findings for attitude change efforts is discussed.

URL

https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1559-1816.1993.tb01077.x

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

1994

Journal Title

Journal of Applied Social Psychology

Author(s)

Agnew, Christopher R.
Thompson, Vaida D.
Smith, Valarie A.
Gramzow, Richard H.
Currey, David P.