Research That Matters (January 17 - 20, 2008)

Purpose: Compared to their heterosexual peers, lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals endure far more discrimination, harassment, and violence. Only four empirical studies, however, have attempted to analyze the characteristics and motivations of those who verbally harass or physically attack sexual minorities. The current study attempts to address some of the theoretical, design, and methodological limitations of the previous research in order to better understand these perpetrators.

Method: A survey comprised of relevant (based on prior research) demographic, psychosocial, attitudinal, and behavioral measures was administered to a purposive sample of college freshmen, representing the age group most likely to be perpetrators. Recruitment from required English classes to avoid selection bias yielded 752 properly completed surveys. Analyses included bivariate analysis of antigay attitudes with independent variables, bivariate analysis of antigay behaviors with independent variables, principal component analysis of motivations for antigay behaviors, and logistic regression to test for predictive association between appropriate independent variables and antigay behaviors.

Results: Religiosity, gender (male), and immigration status (foreign-born) were significantly correlated with antigay attitudes. Thirty eight percent (38%) of respondents admitted to antigay behaviors (96.5% of these engaged in only verbal harassment, whereas, 3.5% admitted to at least one assault). Antigay behaviors were significantly correlated with gender (male), socioeconomic status (low), race (black), social drinking, prior maltreatment, fewer meaningful interactions with homosexuals, and antigay attitudes (ego-defensive functioning). Principal component analysis revealed six distinct motivation categories for harassing homosexuals (antigay ideology, thrill-seeking, peer dynamics, moral values, ego-defensive, and self-defense) and five distinct motivation categories for physically attacking homosexuals (peer dynamics, ego-defensive, hatred, thrill-seeking, and self-defense). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the model for predicting all (verbal and physical) antigay behaviors correctly classified 65.2% of the sample and that the predictors accounted for approximately 16% of the variability in the outcome. The significant predictors were having antigay attitudes that serve ego-defensive functions (B = .682, p = .001), being male (B = .543, p = .003), being a heavy social drinker (B = .488, p = .006), having fewer meaningful interactions with homosexuals (B = .502, p = .022), and having friends with antigay attitudes (B = .473, p = .025). Logistic regression analysis further revealed that the model for predicting physical attacks on homosexuals correctly classified 96.4% of the sample and that the predictors accounted for approximately 24% of the variability in the outcome. The significant predictors were prior maltreatment (B = 1.385, p = .004) and being male (B = 1.440, p = .014).

Implications: This study represents the most comprehensive examination of antigay perpetrators to date and reveals important distinctions between those who verbally harass versus those who physically attack homosexuals. An important finding is the previously unexplored and significant relationship between having been victimized and assaulting sexual minorities. This study adds support to the growing body of research evidencing the reciprocal nature of victimization by linking various forms of aggression to prior maltreatment, which, in turn, has implications for the importance of early intervention and prevention.