Parsimony in personality: predicting sexual prejudice

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Personality Psychology

Background:

• Sexual prejudice, or homophobia, is linked to various demographic, personal, attitudinal, and ideological factors.
• Existing research has identified numerous correlates of sexual prejudice.
• The role of specific personality traits in predicting sexual prejudice requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine if Five-Factor Model (FFM) personality domains and facets, especially Openness and Openness to Values, offer incremental predictive validity for sexual prejudice.
• To determine if personality variables explain variance in sexual prejudice beyond established correlates.
• To highlight the importance of personality facets in understanding sexual prejudice.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 117 college students completed questionnaires assessing FFM personality domains and facets.
• Participants also completed measures of sexual prejudice.
• Demographic, personal-history, attitudinal, and ideological correlates were also measured.
• Stepwise multiple regression analyses were employed to analyze the data.

Main Results:

• The Openness domain score showed only marginal incremental variance in predicting sexual prejudice.
• Openness facet scores, particularly Openness to Values, predicted significant and independent incremental variance in sexual prejudice.
• These personality facets explained variance beyond numerous other established correlates.

Conclusions:

• FFM personality variables, especially at the facet level (e.g., Openness to Values), are important independent predictors of sexual prejudice.
• Integrating facet-level personality constructs into theories of sexual prejudice is crucial.
• Findings have implications for developing prejudice-reduction interventions targeting personality characteristics.