Changing Attitudes Through Social Influence: Does Social Distance Matter?. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mahaffey, Amanda L.; Bryan, Angela D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of homosexuality. Volume 63:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 28
• Page End: 51
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Antigay attitudes -- attitude change -- discrimination -- homophobia -- malleability -- peer influence -- social distance -- social influence; Homosexuality -- Periodicals; 306.766
• DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2015.1082887
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0091-8369

Abstract

ABSTRACT: To test the effects of social influence and social distance on attitudes, we assessed judgments of gay and lesbian targets in various contexts over three studies ( n = 814, 51% female). We compared the impact of a derogatory message to a relatively favorable message ostensibly written by another participant. Participants were robustly moved by the feedback; social influence was a significant predictor in final evaluations of the target, as was social distance. Discrimination against gay men and lesbian women appears not to be a fixed behavior; seemingly anyone can be persuaded to discriminate or not to discriminate by mere peer suggestion.