Abstract reasoning as a predictor of attitudes toward gay men.
This study examined the hypothesis that participants scoring lowest on a measure of abstract reasoning skills would have the highest levels of anti-gay prejudice. It was further hypothesized that abstract reasoning scores would account for variance in prejudice beyond that accounted for by previously established correlates of attitudes toward gay men: sex of the respondent (men being more prejudiced than women), contact with gay people (less contact being associated with higher prejudice), and right-wing authoritarianism (RWA; positively correlating with prejudice). It was also expected that abstract reasoning skills would be negatively correlated with RWA. The results supported each hypothesis. The predictor most strongly related to anti-gay prejudice was RWA, followed by contact with gay people, abstract reasoning skills, and sex of the respondent.
Keiller
Scott W
SW
Department of Psychology, Kent State University at Tuscarawas, 330 University Drive NE, New Philadelphia, OH 44663-9403, USA. skeiller@kent.edu
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D001318:Authoritarianism; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D011581:Psychological Tests