Date of Award

6-2000

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

First Advisor

Pamela Nickels

Second Advisor

Marilyn Patterson

Third Advisor

Anita Sankar

Abstract

This thesis explores the relationship between homophobia and fear-of-intimacy in heterosexual college students, with a focus on gender differences. The study builds upon existing research suggesting that men often display higher levels of homophobia and fear-of-intimacy, potentially due to gender role socialization, cultural expectations, and psychosocial development patterns. Using Erikson's theory of psychosocial development and various social and psychological frameworks, the author hypothesizes that homophobia may act as a barrier to intimacy, especially in men.

A sample of 65 heterosexual undergraduate and graduate students (23 males and 43 females) from a Midwestern private university participated in the study. Participants completed the Fear-of-Intimacy Scale (FIS) and the Index of Attitudes Toward Homosexuals (IAH). The study aimed to test three hypotheses: (1) that males would report higher levels of fear-of-intimacy than females; (2) that males would exhibit higher levels of homophobia than females; and (3) that a positive correlation exists between homophobia and fear-of-intimacy regardless of gender.

Results supported the first hypothesis, confirming that males demonstrated significantly higher fear-of-intimacy scores than females. However, the second and third hypotheses were not supported—no statistically significant difference was found between males and females regarding homophobia scores, and no significant correlation was found between fear-of-intimacy and homophobia for either gender. These findings suggest that while gender differences in fear-of-intimacy are evident, the expected link between homophobia and intimacy fears is more complex than initially proposed.

The study emphasizes the implications for counselors, particularly the importance of understanding how gender, socialization, and personal biases can affect therapeutic relationships and effectiveness. It also highlights the need for further research to better understand the multifaceted interactions between gender roles, emotional expressiveness, and attitudes toward homosexuality.

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