What motivates hate crimes based on sexual orientation? Mediating effects of anger on antigay aggression.
The aim of this study was to examine the role of anger in response to gay men within three theoretical models of antigay aggression. Participants were 135 exclusively heterosexual men who completed a structured interview designed to assess sexual prejudice, anger in response to a vignette depicting a nonerotic male-male intimate relationship (i.e. partners saying "I love you", holding hands, kissing), and past perpetration of antigay aggression. Among identified antigay assailants, motivations for one earlier assault (i.e. sexual prejudice, peer dynamics, thrill seeking) were also assessed. Results indicated that anger fully mediated the relationship between sexual prejudice and antigay aggression, partially mediated the effect of peer dynamics on antigay aggression, and did not account for the relationship between thrill seeking and antigay aggression. These findings indicate that anger in response to gay men facilitates antigay aggression among some, but not all, antigay perpetrators.
Parrott
Dominic J
DJ
Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia 30302-5010, USA. parrott@gsu.edu
Peterson
John L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology*; D000786:Anger; D006252:Hate; D020010:Heterosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011287:Prejudice; D012938:Social Perception; D013240:Stereotyping; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires