Sources of Homophobia towards Gay Men: A Multi-Rater Twin Study

The presented multi-rater twin study focused on genetic and environmental sources of individual differences in homophobia targeting gay men. We expected a substantial genetic and nonshared environmental effect on common... [ view full abstract ]

The presented multi-rater twin study focused on genetic and environmental sources of individual differences in homophobia targeting gay men. We expected a substantial genetic and nonshared environmental effect on common variance across rater perspectives (hypothesis 1) and genetic influences on unique variance of self-ratings (hypothesis 2). A sample of 869 mono- and dizygotic twins reared together as well as 1329 well-informed peers completed a questionnaire covering cognitive, affective, and discriminatory homophobic tendencies towards homosexual males. Both hypotheses could be confirmed. The findings will be discussed in terms of methodological consequences and socio-cultural environmental implications for homophobia.