On the stability of stigmatization: the case of ex-homosexual males

We undertook to empirically identify variables that influence the stigmatization of ex-homosexuals by analyzing the relationship between stigmatization and seven variables held to influence negative attitudes toward members of other ex-deviant groups: the stigmatizer's age, highest achieved educational level, amount of interaction the stigmatizer has had with an ex-homosexual, degree of effectiveness attributed to treatment in changing the homosexual to a heterosexual orientation, degree of responsibility that the stigmatizer attributes to ex-homosexuals for their prior homosexual behavior, degree of dangerousness attributed to ex-homosexuals, and degree of seriousness attributed to homosexuality. Analysis of data obtained by questionnaire from 281 respondents showed that the variable most strongly related to stigmatization of ex-homosexuals was the degree of dangerousness attributed to them. There was a profound direct relationship between these variables. Further, educational level, belief in the effectiveness of treatment, and amount of interaction of ex-homosexuals were inversely related to stigmatization, while degree of seriousness attributed to homosexuality was directly related to stigmatization. Respondents' tendency to stigmatize was not found to be related to age or to their attribution of responsibility to the ex-homosexual for his previous sexual orientation.