|
|
Thesis/Dissertation Information
- Degree Disciplines:
- Psychology
Notes
- Abstract:
- Contemporary youth have become more positive and supportive of its sexual minority peers. Gay youth has gone from being a troubled population to be an accepted one. College is the most accepting environment for sexual minorities. The proposed study addresses two theories to explain the increase in positive attitudes among college students. The first is contact theory. College students are exposed to gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals on a mass level. Youth-directed media exposes college students indirectly to this population. Also, college campuses and college life provide direct exposure. This exposure may be the cause of positive attitudes. The second is the innate bisexuality theory. A theory in evolutionary psychology holds that all people have the capacity for bisexuality under certain conditions during college, individuals become more open-minded and liberal and experiment more. This may be causing greater awareness of capacity for same-sex attraction. This awareness may be causing empathy toward gay and lesbian peers and thus increased positive attitudes. Participants completed anonymous online surveys regarding capacity for same-sex attraction, contact with the GLB population, and attitudes toward homosexuals in order to determine the cause for increased positive attitudes toward gay, lesbian, and bisexual peers among college populations. participants were 257 individuals who were recruited through the Barry University psychology department and through online research websites. Only the data from heterosexual participants who were in college were analyzed. This created a subject pool of 188 individuals (50 men and 98 women) with a mean age of 25. It was hypothesized that, as suggested by previous research, contact with homosexuals would lead to more positive attitudes toward gay and lesbian individuals. However, it was also hypothesized that capacity for same sex attraction would contribute additionally toward positive attitudes. Thus, it was hypothesized that a developmental process occurring in college is partially accountable for the positively changing environment for gay youth. Results supported these hypotheses. A stepwise regression was performed, and both contact and same-sex attraction capacity were found to be predictors of positive attitudes. However, innate capacity for same-sex attraction was found to be another aspect that positively affects attitudes. This research provides a starting point for further research in this area.
- Thesis:
- Thesis (M.S.)--Barry University, 2009.
- Bibliography:
- Includes bibliographic references (leaves 31-38).
Record Information
- Source Institution:
- Barry University
- Holding Location:
- Barry University Archives and Special Collections
- Rights Management:
- Copyright Niamh Tighe. Permission granted to Barry University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
- Resource Identifier:
- HQ73.3.U6 T54 2009_TigheNiamh ( BU-Local )
- Classification:
- HQ73.3.U6 T54 2009 ( lcc )
|
|
