title: Self-perceived origins of attitudes toward homosexuality.
abstract: Undergraduate students (N = 417) at a large southern university responded to open-ended questions designed to assess self-perceived origins of attitudes toward homosexuality and circumstances that may prompt a shift in attitudes. Inductively coded responses pointed to a positive correlation between attitudes toward homosexuality and experience interacting with gay men or lesbians; this is discussed in the context of  Allport's (1954 ) contact hypothesis and  Herek's (1984 ,  1986 ) theory of functional attitudes. Implications are discussed for education and intervention efforts aimed at facilitating understanding and tolerance of gay men and lesbians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0054, USA. JHans@uky.edu
authors.forename: Jason D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Hans
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kersey
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kimberly
mesh_terms: D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D011287:Prejudice; D012071:Religion and Sex; D012935:Social Justice / Q000523:psychology; D015144:Southeastern United States; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology