title: Ecological Invalidity of Existing Gaydar Research: In-Lab Accuracy Translates to Real-World Inaccuracy: Response to Rule, Johnson, & Freeman (2016).
abstract: In recent years, several empirical studies have claimed to provide evidence in support of the popular folk notion that people possess "gaydar" that enables them to accurately identify who is gay or lesbian (Rule, Johnson, & Freeman, 2016). This conclusion is limited to artificial lab settings, however, and when translated to real-world settings this work itself provides evidence that people's judgments about who is gay/lesbian are not pragmatically accurate. We also briefly review evidence related to the consequences of perpetuating the idea of gaydar (i.e., "the gaydar myth"). Although past claims about accurate orientation perception are misleading, the work that gave rise to those claims can nevertheless inform the literature in meaningful ways. We offer some recommendations for how the evidence in past "gaydar" research can be reappraised to inform our understanding of social perception and group similarities/differences.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: William T L
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5978-8195
authors.initials: WTL
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychology , University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: Patricia G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Devine
authors.affiliation: b Department of Educational Psychology , University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
authors.forename: Alyssa A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bischmann
authors.affiliation: c Departments of Psychology and Gender/Women's Studies , University of Wisconsin-Madison.
authors.forename: Janet S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hyde
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female; D018451:Homosexuality, Male; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012938:Social Perception