Attitudes of psychologists and psychologists-in-training to homosexual women and men: An Australian study

Homophobic reactions of Australian psychologists (n = 43), postgraduate psychology students (n = 17) and undergraduate psychology students (II = 44) were compared using Van de Ven's (1994) measures of cognitive, affective and behavioral dimensions of homophobia. Results suggested that undergraduates were significantly more homophobic than psychologists in their thinking, intentional behavior and feelings of fear or discomfort in relation to lesbians and gay men. No other significant group differences were found. Gender differences were found only in relation to one affective dimension of homophobia. Low levels of positive affective response to homosexuals were observed across groups and gender. The study underscores the importance of assessing homophobic response multidimensionally. Implications for the training of Australian psychologists are discussed.