Given the degree of controversy that has been spurred by social issues concerning the rights of homosexuals in our society, it seems appropriate that psychological research has undertaken the task of including this population in the building of social theory. The inclusion of three major articles concerning homosexuality over the last year in one of Social Psychology's leading journals, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, is demonstrative of an expansion of social theory to include homosexuals, as well as a trend toward developing knowledge of the experiences and evaluations of this stigmatized group.
Wayment and Peplau's (1995) investigation of social support networks and psychological well-being among lesbians and heterosexual women, provides an excellent example of the extension of social theory to include the experiences of homosexuals. Specifically, Wayment and Peplau (1995) were interested in broadening models of social support and well-being that had been developed based primarily on heterosexual relationships, to include the experiences of lesbian women. These authors were interested in employing Weis' (1974) typology of social support to compare the link between social support and well-being as experienced by both heterosexual and lesbian women. Results of Wayment and Peplau's (1995) comparison suggested that Weis' (1974) typology of social support was applicable to both heterosexual and lesbian women. As well as demonstrating similarities between lesbian and heterosexuals' experiences of social support and well-being, Wayment and Peplau (1995) also explored the differential association of specific support provisions with psychological well-being for lesbians and heterosexuals. This particular finding urges further investigations to include diverse samples in order to expand scientific understanding of social support models.
Reflecting the trend toward developing a more complete understanding of the social issues facing homosexuals, Kite and Whitley (1996) performed a meta-analysis of 120 studies concerning individuals' attitudes toward homosexual men and women. This meta-analysis served to pull together the findings of past investigations into a more cohesive and comprehensive format. Kite and Whitley (1996) were interested in exploring possible sex differences in attitudes toward homosexual persons, attitudes toward homosexual behavior, and attitudes toward the civil rights of homosexuals. Results of Kite and Whitley's (1996) meta-analysis suggested that sex-differences were largest for attitudes toward homosexual persons, and less extreme for attitudes toward homosexual behavior and attitudes concerning the civil rights of homosexuals. In their discussion, Kite and Whitley (1996) introduce a number of biases present in the studies which they included in their meta-analysis. The authors point out that a number of past investigations have failed to make clear that the term "homosexual" refers both to gay men and lesbian women. Further, Kite and Whitley (1996) discuss the tendency for past research to focus primarily on negative attitudes toward homosexuality. Finally, Kite and Whitley (1996) point out the failure of past investigations to assess the sexual orientation of the respondents. Implicit in Kite and Whitley's (1996) critique of past investigations are suggestions for further research addressing attitudes toward homosexuals. Specifically, future investigations should make a clear distinction between attitudes toward gay men and attitudes toward lesbian women. Further, future research should not limit investigations to the assessment of only negative attitudes. Finally, future research should make an attempt to assess the sexual orientation of the respondents. Kite and Whitley's (1996) meta-analysis unveiled a number of biases in past research concerning attitudes toward homosexuals and provides a useful prescription for conducting future research.
Herek and Capitanio's (1996) study of heterosexuals' attitudes toward gay men and lesbians makes a contribution to the literature concerning homosexuals by exploring a number of possible mediating variables that may affect attitudes toward gay men and lesbians. Consistent with Kite and Whitley's (1996) suggestions for future research, Herek and Capitanio (1996) make a clear distinction between gay men and lesbian women and assess the sexual orientation of respondents. Herek and Capitanio (1996) explored how contact experiences (including the number of gay men and lesbians a respondent knew, the level of intimacy shared by the respondent and the gay man or lesbian woman, and whether the respondent learned about their acquaintances sexual preference directly or indirectly) affected attitudes toward gay men and lesbians. Herek and Capitanio's (1996) results demonstrated that increasing contact with lesbian women and gay men leads to more favorable attitudes. Further, increasing levels of intimacy and receipt of direct disclosure of one's sexual orientation is also associated with increasingly favorable attitudes. Also, Herek and Capitanio (1996) collected a number of demographic measures and explored the relationship between various demographics and attitudes toward gay men and lesbians. A number of relationships between various demographics and attitudes emerged suggesting that variables such as age, gender, religiosity, education level and political orientation may have potentially mediating effects on attitudes toward gay men and lesbians. Herek and Capianio's (1996) study added considerable information to the existing literature concerning attitudes toward homosexuals and highlights potentially fruitful avenues for further investigations.
Review of the literature included in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, over the last year provides evidence of a trend in social psychology involving the inclusion of gay men and lesbians in the expansion and building of social theory. This trend may signify a larger trend in Social Psychology to include the experiences of various stigmatized social groups into the realm of serious scientific investigation. Social psychological investigation plays a pivotal role in attempting to draw social issues surrounding stigmatized groups out of the mire of hatred, ignorance and the clouded thinking that accompanies such emotionally charged issues, and places them into an arena that attempts to explore issues without biases or social agendas.
References
Herek, G. M. & Capitanio, J. P. (1996). "Some of my best friends": Intergroup contact, concealable stigma, and heterosexuals' attitudes toward gay men and lesbians. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 22, 412-424.
Kite, M. E. & Whitley, B. E. (1996). Sex differences in attitudes toward homosexual persons, behaviors, and civil rights: A meta-analysis. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 22, 336-353.
Wayment, H. A. & Peplau, L. A. (1995). Social support and well-being among lesbian
and heterosexual women: A structural modeling approach. Personality and Social
Psychology Bulletin, 21, 1189-1199.
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