A comparative analysis regarding the role of internalized homophobia and community involvement in the identity development of non-heterosexually identified men
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Date
2013-03-14
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Towson University. Department of Psychology
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There are no restrictions on access to this document. An internet release form signed by the author to display this document online is on file with Towson University Special Collections and Archives.
There are no restrictions on access to this document. An internet release form signed by the author to display this document online is on file with Towson University Special Collections and Archives.
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Abstract
[From Chapter One: Introduction] [...]In order to better understand the development of same-sex sexual identities, this paper will first review different theoretical perspectives on the formation of gay and bisexual identities. Additionally, this paper will review homophobia and attitudes toward gay identified men also identifying possible negative outcomes associated with the aforementioned topics. [...]To date research on the development of sexual identities has primarily focused on sexual minorities. This research suggests that sexual orientation is staged based and generally comes about as a direct result of recognizing same-sex attraction within one's self. Additionally, it is theorized, particularly for persons with same-sex attraction, that a person's sexual identity and sexual orientation is something that is announced publicly and is congruent with a person's sexual behavior. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between internalized homophobia and connectedness to the gay community with respect to how men with same-sex sexual behaviors define their sexual orientation. It is hypothesized that men who engage in same-sex sexual behavior and who identify as same gender loving, do so as a result of feeling less connected to the gay community, therefore it is predicted that they will report lower community involvement than gay identified men. Additionally, it is predicted that internalized homophobia will not differ between men who identify as gay or same-gender loving; nor will it differ for men who identify as on the down low.