title: Parental autonomy support and discrepancies between implicit and explicit sexual identities: dynamics of self-acceptance and defense.
abstract: When individuals grow up with autonomy-thwarting parents, they may be prevented from exploring internally endorsed values and identities and as a result shut out aspects of the self perceived to be unacceptable. Given the stigmatization of homosexuality, individuals perceiving low autonomy support from parents may be especially motivated to conceal same-sex sexual attraction, leading to defensive processes such as reaction formation. Four studies tested a model wherein perceived parental autonomy support is associated with lower discrepancies between self-reported sexual orientation and implicit sexual orientation (assessed with a reaction time task). These indices interacted to predict anti-gay responding indicative of reaction formation. Studies 2-4 showed that an implicit/explicit discrepancy was particularly pronounced in participants who experienced their fathers as both low in autonomy support and homophobic, though results were inconsistent for mothers. Findings of Study 3 suggested contingent self-esteem as a link between parenting styles and discrepancies in sexual orientation measures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Essex, Colchester, United Kingdom. netta@essex.ac.uk
authors.forename: Netta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Weinstein
authors.forename: William S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: Cody R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Dehaan
authors.forename: Andrew K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Przybylski
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Legate
authors.forename: Richard M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Ryan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005220:Fathers / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006716:Homosexuality / Q000523:psychology*; D006791:Hostility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D011287:Prejudice; D011581:Psychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012649:Self Concept; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult