The influence of the environment on a person's sexual orientation: intergenerational analysis in Russia

Alexander M Rikel

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/202127310043

Abstract

The psychological studies of the phenomenon of homosexuality is easier to find in European and American research. In this connection, the social-psychological specifics of representations towards homosexuality seems logical, as well as a valuable diversity of representations within society. Of particular interest is the study of this attitudes in the information society, where the media and social networks form bright, often polar points of view. In some previous papers it was shown that the Z Generation is described in terms of more tolerant position towards commonly segregated social groups. The purpose of this study was to reveal the representations about homosexuality among various generations of Russians. The methodological core of the research was the study of social representations (P. Vergesse method). The research methods implied the questionnaire aimed at figuring out representations about homosexuality and a modified variant of the RAHI test. Sample was N = 444 (residents of Russia, 16-65 y.o.). The hypotheses of the research were confirmed: an inverse relationship between belonging to a generational cohort and attitude towards homosexuality as normal was revealed. A significant difference between the Z Generation in tolerance of representations about homosexuality was shown. Some ‘double standards’ towards male and female homosexuality were distinguished. The basic notion of homosexuality as a interaction, based, on a sexual (not love-spiritual kind of relationship), was defined. Conclusions were drawn about the multidimensional influence of channels of mass communication on different generations.

Highlights

Homosexuality can be defined through any manifestation of sexual behavior and attraction to person of the same sex [1], through concomitant affective attachment [2], through a way of identification and self-identification [3].The study of homosexuality is interesting in the context of the changing scientific consensus about its nature: at the end of the XIX century, this phenomenon was considered pathological, attempts to treat this ‘disease’ did not stop until the middle of the XX century and caused a stir in scientific and public discourse [4]
Studies of representations about homosexuality in Russia do not set the task of analyzing their structure, as well as little affect the generational analysis of these ideas, which is extremely important when talking about this popular topic in public discourse
Are the results of the RAHI questionnaire, which identifies the overall level of homophobia in the sample

Summary

Introduction

Homosexuality can be defined through any manifestation of sexual behavior and attraction to person of the same sex [1], through concomitant affective attachment [2], through a way of identification and self-identification [3]. The study of homosexuality is interesting in the context of the changing scientific consensus about its nature: at the end of the XIX century, this phenomenon was considered pathological, attempts to treat this ‘disease’ did not stop until the middle of the XX century and caused a stir in scientific and public discourse [4]. In 1974, the APA recognized homosexuality as a ‘model of sexual behavior’, and in 1992, ‘homosexuality’ was excluded from the ICD. With the development of the trend towards the humanistic development of science and society, many psychological studies have become focused, on the contrary, on education, the study of mechanisms to counteract stigmatization, debunking destructive myths about homosexuality [5]

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