Abstract
AbstractWe examined whether homophobic epithets (e.g., faggot) function as labels of deviance for homosexuals that contribute to their dehumanization and physical distance. Across two studies, participants were supraliminally (Study 1) and subliminally (Study 2) exposed to a homophobic epithet, a category label, or a generic insult. Participants were then asked to associate human‐related and animal‐related words to homosexuals and heterosexuals. Results showed that after exposure to a homophobic epithet, compared with a category label or a generic insult, participants associated less human‐related words with homosexuals, indicating dehumanization. In Study 2, we also assessed the effect of a homophobic epithet on physical distance from a target group member and found that homophobic epithets led to greater physical distancing of a gay man. These findings indicate that homophobic epithets foster dehumanization and avoidance of gay people, in ways that other insults or labels do not.
Highlights
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This study investigated the effect of homophobic slurs on the dehumanization of gay men, Pe comparing the impact of a homophobic epithet with exposure to the category group label
Dehumanization of homosexuals was unique to the homophobic vi epithet condition, and not to generic insult or category labels, suggesting that it is the specific anti-gay ew content and the offensiveness of the label or the categorization itself that influenced the dehumanization of the target group
Summary
The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-profit purposes provided that:. The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. European Journal of Social Psychology “Not “just words”: Exposure to homophobic epithets leads to dehumanizing and physical distancing from homosexuals. We examined whether homophobic epithets (e.g., faggot) function as labels of deviance for homosexuals that contribute to their dehumanization and physical distance. Participants were supraliminally (Study 1) and subliminally (Study 2) exposed to a homophobic epithet, a category label or a generic insult. Fo homophobic epithet, compared to a category label or a generic insult, participants associated less human-related words with homosexuals, indicating dehumanization.
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