Exploring the Impact of Masculinity Threat on Homosexual and Heterosexual Men

Lægteskov-Heidmann, Emma, Ms (2023) Exploring the Impact of Masculinity Threat on Homosexual and Heterosexual Men. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.

Text pdflaegteskovheidmann-emma_bachelor_thesis_final.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only Download (1MB)

Abstract

Previous research has established masculinity as a precarious social status that is difficult to obtain and easy to lose. Studies have shown that when men’s masculinity is threatened, their responses may be characterised by other-focused hostility such as homophobia and sexism as well as self-focused negative emotions like shame and guilt. To explain individual differences in men’s responses to masculinity threats, Stanaland et al. (2022) created a model of masculine identity. The present research undertakes an empirical test of this model, specifically focusing on the other-focused responses to an other-imposed masculinity threat. We compared 136 heterosexual men and 134 homosexual men on their responses to an other-imposed masculinity threat. We measured three externalised responses (sexism, homophobia and anger) and internalised responses (shame and guilt). We hypothesised that an other-imposed masculinity threat would elicit externalised responses. Secondly, we hypothesised that an other-imposed masculinity threat would not elicit internalised responses, and lastly, we hypothesised that homosexual and heterosexual men would respond differently to an other-imposed masculinity threat. Participants were split into two conditions; a control condition (N = 145) and an experimental condition (N = 125). In the experimental condition, we used a vignette to create a masculinity threat that would induce an actual-ought discrepancy. We conducted a two-way ANOVAs for each dependent variable to examine the role of masculinity threat and sexual orientation. Our results supported our second hypothesis, but did not support our first and third hypotheses. We further discuss the practical and theoretical implications of our findings. Keywords: Masculinity threat, actual-ought discrepancy, externalised responses, internalised responses, sexism, homophobia, anger, shame, guilt

Item Type:	Thesis (Bachelor)
Supervisor name:	Aksu, A.
Degree programme:	Psychology
Differentiation route:	None [Bachelor Psychology]
Date Deposited:	24 Jul 2023 12:20
Last Modified:	24 Jul 2023 12:20
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/2588

Actions (login required)

View Item