It Gets Better: Policy Changes Predict Implicit Bias Against Homosexuality

Presentation Year

2019

College or Department

College of Professional Studies

Short Description of your Research or Creative Project (700 characters or less)

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of policy changes on people's implicit biases about gay people. Participants completed an online IAT task that measures implicit favoritism for gay vs. straight people. A time series analysis indicates that the average monthly implicit favoritism score (for straight over gay people) decreased following the legalization of same-sex marriage in the United States. This suggests reduced favoritism for heterosexuals over gay and lesbian people, b = - 0.83, t(164) = -18.74, p < .001. As predicted, people exhibited less implicit bias against homosexuality after the legalization of gay marriage.

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No