Social dominance orientation, cross-group friendship and prejudice towards homosexuals

In our research we explored attitudes toward homosexuals in relation to social dominance orientation, cross-group friendship and gender. The sample, composed of high school students of two Sicilian towns, displayed slightly egalitarian and positive attitudes toward homosexuals. In particular, women have shown significantly lower levels of prejudice and apprehension in term of contact with regard to homosexuals than have men. Cross-group friendship with homosexuals had a positive impact on sexual prejudice, apprehension of contact with homosexuals and social dominance orientation. Finally, social dominance was positively correlated with negative attitudes toward homosexuals.