SEXUAL ORIENTATION ATTRIBUTIONS АND CONVENTIONAL PRE-EXISTING VALUES IN THE CONTEXT OF SEXUAL MINORITIES’ RIGHTS

Abstract

Attributions concerning the origins of sexual orientation are acknowledged as significant predictors of attitudes toward sexual minorities. Sexual prejudice and opposition to same-gender couple’s rights are strongly linked with support of traditional values. The current study aimed to test that attributions for sexual orientation are significantly associated with opposition to same-gender adoption rights. Secondly, this study examined if participants’ specific attitudinal characteristics reflecting support of traditional values (e.g., religiosity, political positioning) are strong predictors of sexual orientation attribution beliefs supporting the concept that attributions for sexual orientation may stem from pre-existing conventional beliefs. This exploratory, cross-sectional study was conducted from October 8 until December 20, 2020, via an online survey. A total of 119 respondents aged 18 to 48 years (Mage = 24.31; SDage = 8.36) participated in the study. Bivariate correlations were generated to explore the associations among variables of interest. Multiple regression analysis was performed to predict the influences of all variables of interest on etiological beliefs about sexual orientation. This study’s findings suggest that attitudes toward sexual minorities' rights tend to be more negative when their sexual orientation is believed to be controllable and that sexual orientation attributions conform to pre-existing context-specific conventional socio-cultural values and norms.