Manipulating Word Recall Using Pictures Depicting Sexual Orientation

Negative attitudes towards homosexuality have manifested causing a great deal of discrimination. LaMar and Kite (1998) found that heterosexuals viewed gay men more negatively than lesbians in the factors of tolerance, morality, contact, and stereotypes (LaMar & Kite, 1998). A limitation to past studies is the use of self-report and attitude scales. Although the scales are validated, potential participant sensitization or reactivity is at risk. The current study used a memory task in attempt to measure the subconscious attitudes towards lesbians and gay men between groups. Participants viewed a slideshow containing 24 negative (e.g., dyke), positive (e.g., love), and neutral (e.g., house) words pertaining to either lesbian or gay individuals. Participants then viewed three pictures denoting sexual orientation depending on the condition (i.e., lesbian or gay condition). After a minute of viewing the photos, participants were asked to write down any words they remembered from the slideshow. Both groups also viewed a “Heterosexual condition” where they viewed a slideshow of words and pictures representing heterosexuality. It was hypothesized that 1) participants in the gay condition would remember more negative words than participants in the lesbian condition, 2) participants who have had experience with homosexuals would remember less positive words than participants who have not, 3) participants will remember more positive words during the heterosexual condition as compared to the lesbian or gay conditions, and 4) results from an attitude scale would be different from results on the memory task