The Relationship of Symbolic Beliefs and Prior Contact to Heterosexuals' Attitudes Toward Gay Men and Lesbian Women.

Research has examined the relation of prior contact and/or symbolic beliefs on attitudes toward homosexuals or gay men. Little research though has been conducted on attitudes toward lesbian women. We examined the simultaneous relationships of symbolic beliefs and prior contact on attitudes toward gay men and attitudes toward lesbian women. Regression analyses indicated that on their own either symbolic beliefs or prior contact were significant predictors of attitudes towards both groups. When examined together though symbolic beliefs predicted attitudes toward lesbian women whereas prior contact predicted attitudes toward gay men. Overall, participants had more contact with gay men than lesbian women. The implications of our results are discussed in terms of the contact hypothesis. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)