Mary E Kite

Ball State University · Department of Psychological Science

In recent years, there has been remarkable change in societal acceptance of lesbians and gay men. This meta-analysis explored whether this positive shift has reduced the gender difference in these attitudes. We tested Kite and Whitley’s (1996) gender belief system model and replicated their finding that heterosexual men held more negative attitudes...

This chapter reviews the cross‐cultural literature on sexual prejudice and prejudice based on gender identity. It begins with a review of contemporary terminology related to these biases. The chapter then provides an overview of the cross‐cultural laws supporting or denying civil rights to sexual and gender identity minorities. Researchers have ide...

Past research has found mixed evidence for the idea that a “double standard of aging” (e.g., Sontag, 1972) exists. Evidence for this gendered ageism appears to be stronger when stimuli representing physical appearance are used (e.g., photographs) compared to when target labels (e.g., 85-year-old woman) are used (Henss, 1991). However, indirect evid...

In this chapter, we examine the psychological factors that influence cross-cultural attitudes toward homosexual behavior and toward lesbian women and gay men. When possible, we include a discussion of the factors influencing the experiences of these individuals. We begin by explaining the advantages that accrue due to heterosexual privilege and how...

Over the past several decades, the shifting social climate has led to a steady increase in legal rights, social acceptance, and visibility for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people. However, there are still marked individual differences in levels of sexual prejudice as well as varying levels of comfort and exposure to the LGBT commu...

We explored how students view the teaching evaluation process and assessed their self-reported behaviors when completing student evaluations of teaching (SETs). We administered a 28-item survey assessing these views to students from a cross section of majors across 20 institutions (N = 597). Responses to this measure were analyzed using exploratory...

The authors describe a demonstration of stereotype use in everyday language that focuses on common phrases reflecting stereotypic beliefs about ethnic groups or nationalities. The exercise encourages students' discussion of stereotype use. Students read 13 common phrases from the English language and stated whether they had used each phrase and whe...

As members of the Steering Committee for the 2008 National Conference on Undergraduate Education in Psychology, we realize that the future of our discipline depends on quality undergraduate programs that prepare students for advanced study in psychology. Our concern with quality education in psychology extends far beyond the future of the disciplin...

consider why [gender stereotyping is a ubiquitous process to which we all succumb], what conditions support stereotypes, and what functions they serve / review both theoretical analyses and empirical findings as they relate to the content of gender stereotypes and subtypes, the development of stereotypes, and individual differences in their use / c...

This meta-analytic review of 232 effect sizes showed that, across five categories, attitudes were more negative toward older than younger adults. Perceived age differences were largest for age stereotypes and smallest for evaluations. As predicted by social role theory (Eagly, 1987), effect sizes were reduced when detailed information was provided...

We examined whether the timing of the report and the victim's apparent motive for reporting influences women's and men's perceptions of sexual harassment. Undergraduates (153 women, 149 men) listened to 1 of 6 versions of audiotaped testimony of the victim and defendant. The report was filed either immediately or 18 months later, and motive either...

Replies to comments published by M. J. Harris (see record 2003-03406-011) and A. Bleske-Rechek and R. M. Webb (see record 2003-03406-012) in reference to the original article by M. E. Kite et al (see record 2001-10045-002), which summarized the findings and recommendations of the Task Force on the Status of Women in Academe. Here Kite et al reply i...

This article reviews the characteristics of academic women in psychology. It also details what is known about women's participation in various academic roles and describes their successes in those roles. The article also discusses obstacles to women's success in psychology as a discipline and in academe more broadly. The article concludes with reco...

This article reviews the characteristics of academic women in psychology. It also details what is known about women's participation in various academic roles and describes their successes in those roles. The article also discusses obstacles to women's success in psychology as a discipline and in academe more broadly. The article concludes with reco...

We addressed four components of attitudes toward gay men and lesbians: condemnation/tolerance, morality, contact, and stereotypes. We hypothesized that attitudes would vary by component and by the sex of the person being rated. Results indicated that men (n = 137) held more negative attitudes toward homosexuals than did women (n = 133) on all facto...

Two studies tested the social role theory (Eagly, 1987) prediction that role information would override the age-related agency stereotype. Although results of Study 1 showed that employed people were viewed similarly in agency regardless of target age, interpretation was limited because employed targets were most often imagined to be male and young...

A teaching activity improves students' scientific reasoning by focusing attention on the causal, explanatory nature of psychological theories. The instructor's initial lecture emphasizes the argument form called Inference to the Best Explanation (IBE). Students construct IBE arguments by sorting a series of premises and conclusions based on corresp...

Meta-analytic techniques were used to compare men's and women's attitudes toward homosexual persons, homosexual behaviors, and gay people's civil rights. As expected, size of sex differences varied across these categories. Men were more negative than women toward homosexual persons and homosexual behavior, but the sexes viewed gay civil rights simi...

In a recent article, M. B. Oliver and J. S. Hyde (1993) reported the results of a set of meta-analyses of gender differences on a number of sexuality-related variables, including attitudes toward homosexuality. The small number of studies on this topic included in the review suggested that Oliver and Hyde's literature search strategy overlooked a n...

The distinctiveness hypothesis proposes that self-definitions are influenced by those aspects of the self which make us different from the majority (e. g., MGuire, 1982). This research supports the hypothesis that students of nontraditional college age, who are a minority on this dimension, should be more likely to mention age in their spontaneous...

Males who were tolerant or intolerant of homosexuals participated in an experiment wherein they interacted with a gay male, a lesbian, or a person of unknown sexual orientation. Results showed that although both attitudes toward homosexuality and the partner's sexual orientation affected reactions to that person. there were few effects due to targe...

This article outlines three activities that demonstrate common perceptual errors described in the social psychological literature: the actor-observer effect, the false consensus bias, and priming effects. These activities produce consistent results and demonstrate how cognitive shortcuts can result in inaccurate judgments. These simple demonstratio...

Stereotypes of age and gender are examined with 35-year-old and 65-year-old men and women as target persons. Age stereotypes were more pronounced than gender stereotypes; respondents offered more elaborate free-response descriptions of older targets than of younger targets and described same-age targets more similarly than same-sex targets. On the...

A classroom exercise that can help students focus on the difficulties in defining normal sexual behavior is described. First, students complete a 30-item questionnaire on which they indicate whether or not a variety of behaviors are normal. Then, they meet in groups and construct a definition of “normal” sexual behavior. Class discussion centers on...

Attitudes toward the elderly have been examined in a number of empirical studies, yet the question of whether the elderly are viewed more negatively than younger persons has not been resolved. A meta-analysis of the literature was conducted to examine this question; results demonstrated that attitudes toward the elderly are more negative than attit...

Stereotypes of women, men, and nationalities of 28 countries were examined to determine the extent to which stereotypes of nationalities are applied to women as well as to men. As expected, stereotypes of the men tended to resemble stereotypes of their nationalities more than did stereotypes of the women. Yet this greater similarity between stereot...

Beliefs about the characteristics of male and female homosexuals and heterosexuals were assessed to determine the degree to which stereotypes of homosexuals are consistent with the inversion model proposed by Freud (1905) and others, i.e., the assumption that homosexuals are similar to the opposite-sex heterosexual. Results showed that people do su...

A 21-item scale that assesses attitudes toward homosexuality is presented. This Likert-type scale has one major factor, excellent internal consistency (alpha=93), and good test-retest reliability (r=.71). An experiment that uses this measure to predict behavior toward an alleged homosexual is also described. In this study, each male subject was ini...

Re-analyzed data from a study previously reported by the authors and L. L. Lewis (see record 1987-04083-001) using the adjusted ratio of clustering (ARC) method. 169 psychology students were presented with 61 words at 5-sec intervals on slides and then instructed to recall as many as they could. Results show that Ss were more likely to prefer cate...

Following the procedures of Bem (1981), an attempt was made to replicate the relationship between the assumed use of a gender schema as indexed by scores on the Bem Sex Role Inventory (BSRI) and the clustering of gender-related words in recall. Although comparable levels of overall clustering were obtained, there was no observable relationship betw...

Reviews research on gender stereotypes. Beliefs about the nature of women and men, long a topic of debate among scientists as well as the general public, are being investigated with renewed vigor as developments in social cognition provide a helpful framework for analysis. Some of these recent developments are discussed, with particular attention t...

Sex differences in attitudes toward homosexuality were examined using Glass's d as an estimator of effect size. There was a small mean effect (d = .207) indicating that males have more negative attitudes than females toward homosexuals. However, this effect was found to decrease in magnitude when sample size was controlled for, with larger studies...

examine the issue of individual differences in beliefs about and reactions to the specific subgroup of gay persons / the perspective taken here is based on the premise that heterosexuals' affective and behavioral reactions to gay men and lesbians are influenced by a generalized belief system . . . that includes, but is not limited to, their beliefs...

beliefs about gender, although resident in individual heads, reflect a cultural system that demands an interdisciplinary interpretation (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)

A gender role analysis of sex differences in attitudes toward homosexuality is based on the assumption that heterosexuals' evaluations of gay men and lesbians are rooted in a broader belief system about women, men, and their appropriate roles. This belief system has two consequences relevant to attitudes toward homosexuality. First, gender-associat...

This chapter examines how the gender belief system influences our perceptions of and reactions to women and men in nontraditional roles. The work described here is based largely on the beliefs of heterosexual, White, middle class college students. The expectations about what women and men should be guide and shape how women and men actually are. T...