Stereotype content and social distance: changing views of homosexuality

This project examined effects of stereotype content and uniformity on social distance regarding homosexuals. Administration of an adjective checklist and social distance scale to 538 undergraduates resulted in identification of "traits" that change social distance. Those traits that positively correlated with distance at or beyond the .05 level were: "cowardly," "sly," "suspicious," "shrewd," "stupid," "impulsive," and "ignorant." Traits that correlated with reduced distance ("sensitive," individualistic," "intelligent," "honest," "imaginative," "neat," "reserved," "alert," "kind" "faithful," "courteous," "sophisticated," and "artistic") were more uniform. Both clusters of negative and positive traits were moderately intercorrelated within and suggest that they each represent underlying dimensions. It is suggested that sterotypes about homosexuals are changing in a more positive direction.