A Primer on Homophobia for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist

Abstract

T he term homophobia was coined in 1972 by Weinberg to signify irra tionally negat ive atti tudes toward homosexual people. It describes the phenomenon in heterosexuals of the dread of being in close quarters with homosexuals, and its counte rpart in gay persons of self-loath ing. Int ernal ized hom ophobi a shares characteristics with self-hatred experienced by other socially stigmatized minor ity groups (Phinn ey and C havira, 1992). Among males, homophobia is correlated with those who support traditional gender roles, are highly religious or members of a conservative or fundamenta list denomination, are politically conservat ive, have no known personal contact with homo sexuals, and believe their social group agrees with their att itudes (Herek, 1994). In a large national telephone survey, about two thirds of respondents reported significant hom ophobic attitudes (Herek, 1994). On the other hand , studies of hom osexuals show that high levels of int ernalized hom oph obia vary significantly with overall psychological distress, depression, somatic symptoms, poor self-esteem, loneliness, and distru st (Shidlo, 1994). Between a quarter and one third of homosexuals ind icate significantly negat ive att itudes toward homo sexuality (Shidlo, 1994).