Believing sexual orientation is innate sharply reduces moral blame of homosexuals

Evidence

Beyond these effects, however, the scientific evidence indicating that sexual orientation might be determined before one is born (e.g., LeVay, 1993) has likely affected the attitudes of heterosexuals. In the fall of 1989 I briefly described the “fetal androgenization” theory (Brown, 1986, pp. 358-362) in a booklet administered to 372 Manitoba students. Then I asked them to indicate on a 0-4 scale “how blame-worthy, how morally at fault would a person be for being a homosexual” if this theory proved true? The mean was 0.43, with 74% of the sample saying “0.” As you would expect, however, some Highs still thought homosexuals would be morally at fault: 7 = .31. — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 3925 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Belief in biological causes greatly reduces blame of homosexuals except among authoritarians — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 3925; Authoritarianism predicts anti-gay hostility better than other personality variables — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 349; Belief in a cause’s morality turns destructive acts into pride (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Belief in biological causes greatly reduces blame of homosexuals except among authoritarians #corroborates (0.93) — Bob Altemeyer, The Authoritarian Specter, 3925
• Belief in genetic determinism correlates with prejudice and system-justifying ideology #complicates (0.75)