Attitudes towards homosexuality among university students

Attitudes towards quirk among university studentsIn 2006, Answers Corporation explained that queerness is a marge created by 19th nose candy. The closeing of homo versed is, having a versed predilection to per countersigns of the resembling sex (The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 2006). quirkiness includes two groups, which atomic number 18 female homophile(prenominal)ism and male queerness. young-bearing(prenominal) quirkiness is described as homoeroticism and the male oddity is described as jovial (Answers Corporation, 2006).At the beginning, some of the psychologists said that quirk is a handstal disease and put it into the list of work forcetal disorder. However, after some of the studies, they realized that crotchet is non a manpowertal disorder because it is related to psychological affray and is in no sense of mental problem as hygienic. So, queerness removed from the list of mental disorders (Tozeland, Loewen, Monteith, n.d.) .The factors that tip to homophile(a)ness ar decisive and discuss by human beingsy a(prenominal) specialist fields oft(prenominal) as psychologists and psychiatrists.View of Psychologists toward Reason of humanityIn Robinson visual sense (as cited in Facts closely transsexual(prenominal)ity and psychical Health, n.d.), early of the twentieth century, Ellis (1901) argued that pederasticity was inborn and it was non immoral, non a disease, and that umpteen transgendereds made issuestanding contrisolelyions to society.Sigmund Freud has a divers(prenominal) theory of human sexuality from Ellis. He deald that only human beings were innately bisexual. Human beings become hete blush winexual or homo as a conduct of what they baffle experiences with different large number or environment that skirt of them. Freud besides agreed with Ellis that human orientation should non be viewed as a form of pathology (Facts nearly Homosexuality and Mental Health, n.d.).He wrote a letter to an American m separate in 1935. He said that, batch cant get any advantages from their transgender orientation. But, they were always blamed, discriminated by other bulk. Actually, quirk is not a sin, not an illness as well. He similarly said that, we need to see it as a sexual function produced by certain sexual development. at that place ar many individuals of ancient and modern whiles that were respect by us ar oddity. According to him, it is in bonnyice and cruelty to describe that homosexualism is a hatred and sin. He t grey the American mother that, analysis may let her son feel harmony, peace and full efficiency when her son in the season of unhappy, neurotic, torn by conflicts, and inhibited in the sociable life whether he remains a human or gets interchanged (Facts close Homosexuality and Mental Health, n.d.).View of Reincarnation Researchers toward Reason of HomosexualityAccording to Dr. Ian Stevenson, he concludes that gayity is a nat ural human trait that matters from the reincarnation of a individual of one gender as a someone of the opposite gender. much(prenominal) people must adjust to their new gender and sexuality at an early age. The difficulty of adjusting relating to the sex change and lead to gayness ulterior on in their lives (as cited in Williams, 2006).Reincarnation direction the soul task a new form after the death of the former body (The Columbia Encyclopedia, 2006). The categoriseic form of the reincarnation doctrine was formulated in India, but certainly not earlier than the 9th century BC, when the Brahmana writings were composed. subsequently the Upanishads clearly defined the concept surrounded by the 7th and the 5th century BC, it was adopted by the other strategic Eastern religions which originated in India, Buddhism and Jainism. collectible to the spread of Buddhism in Asia, reincarnation was later adopted by Chinese Taoism, but not earlier than the 3rd century BC (Reincarnati on, its meaning and consequences, n.d.). designer girls who argon reborn as boys may wish to tog up as girls or prefer to play with girls rather than boys. Former boys who be reborn as girls may wish to dress as boys or prefer to play with boys rather than girls. Former men who are reborn as women will be attracted to women and will thitherfore be lesbian. Former women who are reborn as men will be attracted to men and will therefore be intrepid (as cited in Williams, 2006).Former means past-life or previous life and reborn mean present lifetime. In many cases the person begins talking virtually his or her life or lives before the present lifetime, near their previous death and about the time between lives including the planning of the present lifetime (as cited in Williams, 2006). So, Dr. Ian Stevenson concludes that, homosexuality is the stubble of reincarnation.Beside of the factors to cause homosexuality, the factors that influence people perspectives towards homosexual ity are in like manner genuinely controversial.Different people may bring out different of attitudes, intending, skin senses and demeanours towards homosexuality. The variances can be considered contribute to some of the factors such(prenominal) as individualisedised and kind factors.Personal Factors that Influence Attitudes towards HomosexualAge. Have a sum of money of perimeter of homosexual behaviors from attitude towards homosexuality in 29 nations, such as the nations of Australia, USA, Norway, and others indicated that the high dooms of gross profit scored as snow and the lowest point as 0. The higher the gross profit scored the higher the concuration of homosexuality. The predicted level of tolerances for three- course of instruction-old people age 20 would be 53 points. plurality in middle age present tolerance scores of 43 points by age 40. At age 60, the tolerance scored is about 33 and with 23 points at age 80. It showed that, as the age increasing, the tolerance scored of homosexual was decreasing.The tolerance point of elder was low compare to younger people (Attitude towards homosexuality in 29 nations, n.d.).Beside of the factors of age, the attitudes also influences by religion.Religion background. Different apparitional will makes a large difference to tolerance of homosexuality. According to a test of measure of homosexual behaviors tolerance, the higher points of tolerance scored as 100 and the lowest point as 0. The higher the tolerance scored the higher credence of homosexuality. Ardent believers in a personal idol would rate homosexual behavior at 28 points. But, staunch atheists who are totally fend the idea of personal God rate homosexuality at 59 points (Attitude towards homosexuality in 29 nations, n.d.).It obviously showed that, Ardent believers in a personal God was less accepting to homosexuality which rate 28 points compare to staunch atheists who totally reject the idea of personal God which rate 59 poin ts (Attitude towards homosexuality in 29 nations, n.d.).Beside that, church goers are less tolerant of homosexuality than those who are never darken a churchs door. People who are regular going to church rate 32 points, and those who are shunning the church were rank 48 points (Attitude towards homosexuality in 29 nations, n.d.).It is because according to Christians, homosexuality violating some of Gods most basic commandments for humanity. Christians whim in Gods condemnation of homosexuality is claimed to be so important that forcing them to treat queers sufficiently means forcing them to violate their phantasmal beliefs (Cline, n.d.).In nearly all societies throughout human history, religion offers answers to fundamental movements concerning the origin and meaning of things. ghostlike systems of explanation offer accounts of the creation of the world, as well as specifying the rules for comely behavior-and the consequences for infractions-that prepare been imposed by th e Creator (Gross, 2005).Christianity handed-d testifyly forbid sexual dealings between people of the same sex and teaches that such behavior is sinful (Gross, 2005).So, religious belief and church attendance mystify powerfully influence on attitudes towards homosexuality in almost 29 nations.Beside of the factors of religion, the attitudes toward homosexuality also influences by faculty of study among students (Societal Attitudes towards Homosexuality, 2006).Faculty of study. Students who studied faculties of liberal arts or neighborly Science had more than than verificatory attitudes toward gay man compared to Science or personal line of credit students. The result revealed that students in the faculties of Arts and societal Science had more positive attitudes towards homosexual compare with students in faculties Business and Science (Schellenberg, Hirt and Sears, 1999).It shows that there are two possible reasons that determined these results. First, students who hold d ear traditional sex roles may be the most apt(predicate) to set apart programs in faculties of business and sciences where political attitudes are conservative. Second, students with less value traditional sex roles may be the most likely to select programs in faculties of Art and Social Science. It is because they thought the departments are more liberal (Schellenberg, Hirt and Sears, 1999).In academic field, beside the factor of different faculty of study, the educational level also plays a very important role to determine the attitudes towards homosexuality.Educational level. The higher years of education people involve, the higher scored of tolerances people have. The higher points of tolerance scored as 100 and the lowest point as 0. The higher of tolerance scored sign that it is more adoption of homosexuality (Attitude towards homosexuality in 29 nations, n.d.).The point of tolerances was 34 out of 100 rating by people who with 8 years of education. Those with 10 years of e ducation were rating 38 points and people who have hit the hay 2 years masters academic degree after 4 year bachelors degree was rating 51 points. So, the violate between the least educated and the most educated is 17 points. (Attitude towards homosexuality in 29 nations, n.d.).This tolerance-enhancing effect of education actually is link to other forces which importantly depend on the independent of age, so the lesser pick apart of homosexuality among the highly educated cannot be attributed to a changing cordial climate. The age effects themselves suggest that there is a changing loving climate, but the education effects are in addition to that (Attitude towards homosexuality in 29 nations, n.d.).Other than that, gender also likely to have strongly influences on the attitudes towards homosexuality. Many researchers conducted researches that related to gender differences and their attitudes towards gay men and lesbians. sex activity. Gender belief system is the pattern of ma sculine or distaff behavior of an individual that is defined by a particular close and that is largely determined by a childs upbringing (Answers.com, 2006).Kite and Whitley suggested that men rating the gay men more ban than women, but they were same in the rating of lesbians. Within the male and female, women made approximately equal rating of lesbians and gay men, but mens rating of lesbians were more positive than rating of gay men (as cited in Louiderback Whitley, 1997).According to Kite and Whitley study, it is because people who have strong gender belief system have more proscribe attitudes towards homosexual because homosexuality violates the norms of that belief system. Also, men held more traditional sex-role attitudes than women. So, in the perspective of men, male should be act more masculine and aggressive. They also strongly hold the traditional sexual orientation which is heterosexuality (as cited in Louiderback Whitley, 1997).Beside that, a study (as cited in S chellenberg, Hirt and Sears 1999.), it also showed that male hold more prejudicious attitudes towards gay men than lesbians, and, they also hold more damaging attitudes to homosexual compare with female.Different attitude towards homosexuality is the impact of personal factors. But, the social factors also have certain level of impact on the attitudes towards homosexuality.Social Factors that Influence Attitudes towards HomosexualMedia. Dissemination of information about homosexuality in marketing, television shows, and normal opinion polls, will affect the attitudes of public toward homosexuals no matter it is accurate or inaccurate.The information of homosexuals will lead to AIDS has strong impact on attitudes towards homosexuality. The perpetuation of homophobic attitudes such as the treatment of people with HIV, moralistic interpretations of people with AIDS, certain conceptions about the methods of HIV transmitted, media representation of AIDS, and even the way in which med icines objectivity reinforces a moral view inimical to gay men, lesbians and bisexuals (Anderson, Fakhfakh, Kondylis, 1999).Many of the researches have pass that some of the factors influence attitudes towards homosexuality. There are also some of the researches conducted by researchers to approve whether the stereotypes of people towards homosexuality is correct or not.Social differences. Social differences in the tolerance of homosexuality are quite large. This can aid to explain why people living in different social circles have different scholarships of what the average Australian thinks.For example, 70 years old had go forth school at the end of year 10, and who holds strong religious beliefs and attends church regularly would rate homosexual behaviors at just 1 point out of 100 or always hurt (Attitude towards homosexuality in 29 nations, n.d.).Stereotypes towards HomosexualityCharacteristics. Normally, people would like to believe that gay men are effeminate and lesbian s are tomboys while there are some homosexual people who fit these stereotypes. But, actually they are not representative of all homosexual people. So, the stereotypes of characteristics of homosexual people are not correct at all (Tozeland, Loewen, Monteith, n.d.).Duration of relationship. Studies indicate that people would have the stereotypes that homosexual person will not involve in yen-term, abiding and close relationship with their partners. But, it is not unusual to find homosexuality couples who had been unitedly for over twenty years (Tozeland, Loewen, Monteith, n.d.).Homosexual parents. Some people believe that children of gay or lesbian people are more likely to grow up to be homosexual as their parents. Beside that, people also believe that these children will grow up without appropriate ethical values. In fact, homosexual parents would like to teach their children the values of kindness and charity because they are the victims of hate and discrimination in society (Tozeland, Loewen, Monteith, n.d.).According to Family Research overlay (2001), children who have homosexual parents would be expect to do less well than kids in general in school, on the job, in marriage, raising their proclaim kids, and others. Normally, children of homosexual parents cannot do well in sex identity, language skills and maths fields compare to children of heterosexual parents. But, children of homosexual parents hold strongly social study than children of heterosexual parents.However, they have tries to be successful in life. So not every child with homosexual parents would be expected to be a failure, nor would every child raised by a homosexual parent be expected to fail. Likewise, not every child rose by a married mother and father would be expected to succeed (Family Research Report, 2001).Religion. The vast majority of the worlds churches take the stance that homosexual acts are a sin. To cite an example of a religious viewpoint, the romish Catholic Chur ch in a passage from its Congregation for the philosophy of the Faith, states, As in every moral disorder, homosexual activity prevents ones own fulfillment and happiness by acting contrary to the creative acquaintance of God. Homosexuality is labeled as a moral disorder it is not regular or acceptable (The Scientific Debate on Homosexuality, n.d.).People believe that Christians are disagreeing homosexuality. Some religious groups interpret certain biblical passages as injunctions against homosexuality, while others view these passages in the light of historical context, much like slavery. Actually, many Christians were condemning discrimination and prejudice. They welcome and affirm homosexual Christians into the body of Christ, with unique gifts to offer (Tozeland, Loewen, Monteith, n.d.).Beside to conduct researches to reveal the stereotypes of people towards homosexuality is correct or not, there also a research on how the public opinion towards homosexuality among different nations.Public Opinion toward Homosexual among Different NationsIn study of Societal Attitudes towards Homosexuality (2006), it showed that the result of espousal homosexuality in Africa and the Middle East are tend to strongly disagree. But, major Latin American countries such as Mexico and Brazil accept homosexuality.At Australia 1999, the result showed that 28% of people think that sexual relations between two adults of the same sex are not pervert at all, 15 % think that it is wrong only sometimes, 9 % think that it is almost always wrong, and 48% think that it is always wrong (Attitude towards homosexuality in 29 nations, n.d.).According to Robinson (2003), Apoll by the Gallup Organization from United recount has conducted a research of acceptable of homosexuality in the public. The result showed the percent of the survey result do you personally believe that it is acceptable or not acceptable for gays and lesbians to engage in same-sex behavior? as in 1982-JUN, there was 34% people accept homosexuality and by 1992-JUN, there was an increasing percentage which is 38%. In 1992-MAR, there was 44% and by 1997-APR, there was 42%. In 1999-FEB, there was 50 % and by 2001-MAY, there was 52%. There was 51% in 2002-MAY and 54% in 2003-MAY. It showed that the percentage of acceptable towards homosexuality in the United State is increasing by year of 1982 to 2003.The Pew Research Centers 2003 Global Attitudes Survey effect that, people in Africa and the Middle East strongly object to societal acceptance of homosexuality. But there is far greater tolerance for homosexuality in major Latin American countries such as Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia and Brazil. Opinion in Europe is split between West and East. Majorities in every westward European nation surveyed say homosexuality should be accepted by society, while most Russians, Poles and Ukrainians disagree. 51% of Americans believes homosexuality should be accepted, while 42% disagree (as cited in Societal Attit udes towards Homosexuality, 2006).Significant of This StudyBased on the above introduction, one can see the important of understanding of students attitude to homosexuality.Firstly, according to Lisa Lamar and Mary Kite (1998), it said that males have more negative attitudes towards gay men and this is due to gender roles factor. However, Schellenberg, Hirt Sears (1999), found that males who study in Arts and Social Sciences have more positive attitudes towards gay men. So, this study want to know UTAR Psychology course students attitudes towards gay men is stirred by gender roles or the faculties that they have chose.Second, according to research of Brownell, he found that religions are related to negative attitudes towards lesbian and gay men. Malaysia have many types of religions include Islamic, Buddhist, Indian, and others. This study wants to know are there having differences of attitudes between religions in Malaysia or not. This will make us know more about how the attitud es of different religions people towards lesbian and gay men. This can cast fell conflict or make different religions people can broadcast easily.Third, Many students have confused or varying opinions on homosexuality. It is important for all students to come to terms with what they currently think and feel about homosexuality (Tozeland, Loewen, Monteith, n.d.). This study want to let them conscious about their attitudes towards homosexual and let them decide they want to change it or not.Beside that, through this study, students of psychological science course can more concern about issue of homosexuality and conduct or do further research on it. The further research can help public know about homosexual such as why homosexual, what reason to make them become homosexual, and others. at once public know more about the homosexual group, they might change their attitudes towards homosexual as well as reduce their discrimination perception towards homosexual.This study will deter mine whether the result of this study same with the result of previous researches or not.For this study, it should make a clear distinction of attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women with divide the homosexual to lesbian and gay men. For example, many of previous research conducted research by victimization the term homosexual but do not divide the term homosexual into gay men and lesbian women.Research gesturesFor this study, it will explore the gender influences on attitudes towards homosexuality among university students. We would like to understand more about the gender differences of acceptance of homosexuality among university students.Beside that, this study will determine whether the result is same with the result of previous researches or not.The research apparent movements in this study are as follows.First, are there any gender differences in the attitudes towards lesbian and homosexual?Second, is there any gender difference in their noesis of homosexual?Third, are there any religion differences in their attitude towards lesbian and homosexual?Fourth, is there any religion difference in their acquaintance of homosexual?CHAPTER IIMETHODParticipants118 Psychology students from year 1 to year 3 in University Tunku Abdul Rahman were selected as the precedent of this study. Simple haphazard method was used in the selection.There are 82 females and 36 females. altogether of the students who participated in the survey are simple random try.MaterialsQuestionnaire. The survey conducted using questionnaire (see attachment 1). All participants completed a 4 pages questionnaire consisting of two sections. instructions accompanying the questionnaire guaranteed anonymity and confidentiality.The first part is about the respondents demographic such as gender, age, year, race, and religion. The second part is about respondents attitudes toward lesbian and gay. There are 32 questions in this test.In this test, the first 4 questions are asked about the ge neral attitudes towards homosexuality such as a) I know about homosexuals, and b) Sexual orientation is caused by genes, but not the environment (see attachment 1). Question 5 to 18 is asked about the attitudes towards lesbians such as a) Lesbians just cant fit into our society, b) exual relations between two female is wrong, c) Female homosexuality is a sin and, d) Lesbians are sick (see appendix 1). Question 19 to 32 is asked about the attitudes towards gay men such as a) I think male homosexuals are disgusting, b) Male homosexuality is a perversion, c) Sexual relations between two male is wrong and, d) Homosexual behavior between two men is just plain wrong (see appendix 1).Participants had to rate on the Likert Scale (strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, and strongly agree) according to their attitudes towards homosexual which include lesbian and gay man.Software. SPSS for Windows (12.0) was used for all statistical analyses.ProceduresThe survey was conducted by using s imple random sampling design. A sampling frame, which is the numbered name lists of students from Year One to Year Three Psychology class at UTAR was obtained from the Faculty General Office.All the name of the students were mixed and came out with a new name list (see Appendix 2). A sample size of 118 was selected.The simple random sampling was conducted as followsA starting line point in the table of Random Numbers in the Appendix 4 was chosen using a finger stab. The stab came down at column 6, row 15 at the entry 13916.As the sampling frame ranged from 1 to 301, the left three numbers in each set of five were used when drawing the sample. The number 0 was ignored if that number over 301. The numbers to be included in sampling were been identified by moving across the table from left to right every alternate line started from up and down. The numbers got were highline in yellow color (see Appendix 3).We distributed the questionnaire to the samples that have been selected by simp le random method through UTAR lecturers. The survey took between ten to five-teen minutes to complete and then collected back by lecturers after the respondents completed it in the same day. Instructions accompanying the questionnaire guaranteed anonymity and confidentiality.CHAPTER IIIRESULTreliableness TestThere were five dimensions in the questionnaire. First, the dimension of Negative Attitudes toward Lesbians, it consisted by 10 questions which is from question 5 to question 14. The Cronbachs Alpha was 0.81 after questions 5, 7, 9, 13 were deleted ( turn off 1, pg 16). Therefore, the mean of these 6 items was calculated to represent the respondents negative attitudes toward lesbians.Second, for the dimension of positive degree Attitudes toward Lesbians, it consisted by 4 questions which is from question 15 to question 18. There were 0.49 alphas when question 16 was deleted (Table 1, pg 16).For the dimension of Negative Attitudes toward Gay Men, it consisted by 10 questions whi ch is from question 19 to question 28. There were 0.87 alphas when question 20 was deleted (Table 1, pg 16).For the dimension of arbitrary Attitudes toward Gay Men, it consisted by 4 questions which is from question 29 to question 32. There were 0.64 alphas and none of the questions being deleted (Table 1, pg 16).The reliability alpha of the question 1 to 4 was 0.01 alphas. So, these 4 questions cannot compute as one dimension and will be analyzed individually (see Table 1, pg 16).Table 1Reliability testDimensionCronbachs AlphaN of ItemsItemsNegative Attitudes toward Lesbians0.8166, 8, 10, 11, 12, 14 authoritative Attitudes toward Lesbians0.49315, 17, 18Negative Attitudes toward Gay Men0.87919, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 demonstrable Attitudes toward Gay Men0.64429, 30, 31, 32I know about homosexualSexual orientation is caused by genes, but not the environmentI have ever thought to myself when I found that an attractive person of the sex was homosexual-what a waste0.0141, 2, 3, 4I have ever said, I dont judgment homosexuals, as long as I dont have to see it or something similarGender Differences toward HomosexualNegative attitudes toward lesbians. The results of separatist t- Tests showed that there was no remarkable difference between gender negative attitudes towards the lesbian, t (118) = 0.08, n.s. , where the mean for the negative attitudes toward lesbian for male students is 2.60 ( SD = 0.81), and 2.59 (SD = 0.71) for female students (Table 2, pg 19).Positive attitudes toward lesbians. The results of Independent t- Tests showed that there was no noteworthy difference between gender positive attitudes toward the lesbians, t (118) = 0.31, n.s., where the mean for the positive attitudes toward lesbians for male students is 3.29 (SD = 0.66), and 3.32 (SD = 0.54) for female students (Table 2, pg 19).Negative attitudes toward gay men. The results of Independent t- Tests showed that there was a operative difference between gender negative attitudes t oward gay men, t (118) = 2.24, pPositive attitudes toward gay men. The results of Independent t- Tests showed that there was no significant difference between gender positive attitudes toward gay men, t (118) = -1.520, n.s., where the mean for the positive attitudes toward gay men for male students is 3.11 (SD = 0.80), and 3.30 (SD = 0.52) for female students (Table 2, pg 19).Knowledge towards homosexuality. The results of Independent t- revealed that there was no significant difference between genders in their knowledge towards homosexuality.For the I know about homosexual, t (118) = 0.82, n.s., where the mean for the knowledge towards homosexuality for male students is 2.31 (SD=0.82), and 2.17 (SD=0.83) for female students.For the Sexual orientation is caused by genes, but not the environment, t (118) = -0.890, n.s., where the mean for the knowledge towards homosexuality for male students is 3.28 (SD=1.19), and 4.85 (SD=10.57) for female students.For the I have ever thought to mys elf when I found that an attractive person of the sex was homosexual-what a waste , t (118) = 0.921, n.s., where the mean for the knowledge towards homosexuality for male students is 2.83 (SD=0.97), and 2.65 (SD=1.03) for female students.For the I have ever said, I dont mind homosexuals, as long as I dont have to see it or something similar, t (118) = 0.403, n.s., where the mean for the knowledge towards homosexuality for male students is 3.97 (SD=0.61), and 3.92 (SD=0.76) for female students (see Table 2, pg 19).Table 2Gender differencesDimensionMeant-Valuep-ValueMalesFemalesNegative Attitudes toward Lesbians2.60(SD=0.81)2.59(SD=0.71)0.0800.94Positive Attitudes toward Lesbians3.29(SD=0.66)3.32(SD=0.54)-0.310.76Negative Attitudes toward Gay Men3.03(SD=0.83)2.72(SD=0.63)2.240.027*Positive Attitudes toward Gay Men3.11(SD=0.80)3.30(SD=0.52)-1.5200.13I know about homosexualSexual orientation is caused by genes, but not the environmentI have ever thought to myself when I found that an at tractive person of the sex was homosexual-what a wasteI have ever said, I dont mind homosexuals, as long as I dont have to see it or something similar2.31(SD=0.82)3.28(SD=1.19)2.83(SD=0.97)3.97(SD=0.61)2.17(SD=0.83)4.85(SD=10.57)2.65(SD=1.03)3.91(SD=0.76)0.82-0.890.920.4030.420.380.360.69Note * pReligion Differences toward HomosexualNegative attitudes toward lesbians. The results of Independent t- Tests showed that there was no significant difference between religions have negative attitudes towards lesbian, t (118) = 1.46, n.s., where the mean for negative attitudes toward lesbian for Buddhist is 2.65 (SD=0.76), and 2.42 (SD=0.67) for Chris