Individual Differences Research www.idr-journal.com
2007, Vol. 5, No. 2 ISSN: 1541-745X
pp. 106-114 Copyright © 2007 IDR
Predicting Attitudes toward Homosexuality:
Insights from Personality Psychology
Todd K. Shackelford*
Florida Atlantic University
Avi Besser**
Sapir Academic College, Israel
*Todd K. Shackelford; Department of Psychology; Florida Atlantic University; 2912 College
Avenue; Davie, Florida; tshackel@fau.edu. (email).
**Avi Besser; Department of Behavioral Sciences; Sapir Academic College; D. N. Hof
Ashkelon 79165; Israel; besser@mail.sapir.ac.il (email).
ABSTRACT - Relative standings on personality dimensions predict many
important attitudes. The current research tests the hypothesis that people who score
higher on the personality dimension of Openness to Experience report more
favorable attitudes toward homosexuality. Using data secured by the General Social
Survey of respondents (N = 1,012) residing in the USA, several correlates of
Openness to Experience were identified and entered into multiple regressions
predicting attitudes toward homosexuality. The results provide support for the
hypothesis, and suggest that large social surveys might be useful for assessing
relationships between personality dimensions and important social attitudes such as
attitudes toward homosexuality.
In the world today, there are many views on a person’s sexual preference (e.g.,
Rouse, 2002). Although prejudice against lesbians and gay men is widespread in
American society (e.g., Herek, 2000, Whitley & Aegisdottir, 2000), Americans’
attitudes toward lesbians and gay men have become less negative over the past 30