Summarize the causes of homophobia

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Homophobia is an irrational fear of gays and lesbians; most homophobic people are "homophobic" because of fixed negative attitudes and prejudiced behaviors toward gays and lesbians. Interestingly, same-sex sexual behavior was admired in some past cultures and is fully accepted in some cultures today. Homophobic attitudes are learned; they are certainly not inherited. There are several roots of homophobia in our society. Some religions are fundamentally a part of the problem; the religions that instill homophobic attitudes are those that view same-sex sexual behavior as "evil" or a "sin" and that assert that people who engage in same-sex activities are likely (unless they repent) to be sent by God to eternal damnation. Some homophobic people have erroneously assumed that the high rate of AIDS/HIV infection among gay men provides "evidence" that same-sex sexual behavior is against God's wishes and is a way for God to punish gay people. Some studies confirm the theory that some homophobic people use hostility and violence against gays and lesbians to reassure themselves about their own sexuality. If one feels insecure about one's own sexuality (as many adolescents do), one way of reassuring oneself is by verbally or physically attacking gays and lesbians. The greatest portion of antihomosexual bias, psychologists say, arises from a combination of fear and self-righteousness. Homophobic persons frequently perceive gays and lesbians "as a proxy for all that is evil," according to Gregory Herek, a psychologist who has researched homophobia. "Such people see hating gay men and lesbians as a litmus test for being a moral person." Another researcher, Bob Altemeyer, found that those with the strongest feelings of hostility toward gays and lesbians often fear that the world and society are in jeopardy. "They see homosexuality is a sign that society is disintegrating and as a threat to their sense of morality," said Altemeyer in an interview with the New York Times. "Their self-righteousness makes them feel they are acting morally when they attack homosexuals." Once a person has an antigay bias, that bias is difficult to change. Despite the fact that gays and lesbians are not prone to child molesting, many homophobic people continue to believe that gay men are child molesters. Furthermore, according to Herek, "once parents perceive a threat to their children, their emotionality makes them prone to simplistic thinking. It is such emotionality that makes anti-gay stereotypes so hard to change." Furthermore, a study in stereotyping showed that when homophobic people encounter gays and lesbians, they have a tendency to remember primarily the negative details that support their prejudice. As one becomes more convinced that gays and lesbians are "evil" and a "threat," one is apt to take that next step by engaging in discrimination or violence against gays and lesbians.?