Women Interact More Comfortably and Intimately With Gay Men-But Not Straight Men-After Learning Their Sexual Orientation

Psychological Science
Eric M RussellVivian P Ta

Abstract

Research suggests that the development of close, opposite-sex friendships is frequently impeded by men's often one-sided sexual attraction to women. But what if this element were removed? The current research tested the hypothesis that women engage in more comfortable and intimate interactions with a gay (but not a straight) man immediately after discovering his sexual orientation. In two studies, female participants engaged in imagined or actual initial interactions with either a straight man or a gay man. After the man's sexual orientation was revealed, women (particularly attractive ones) who were paired with a gay man reported greater anticipated comfort, which was mediated by their reduced worry about his sexual intentions (Study 1). Further, once women discovered that they were interacting with a gay man, they displayed more intimate engagement behaviors with him (Study 2). These findings reveal how, and why, close relationships often form quickly between women and gay men.

References

Feb 1, 2000·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·M G Haselton, D M Buss
Jul 23, 2003·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·David P SchmittUNKNOWN International Sexuality Description Project
Apr 6, 2006·Journal of Personality and Social Psychology·Norman P Li, Douglas T Kenrick
Nov 19, 2015·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Eric M RussellWilliam Ickes

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Citations

Sep 10, 2021·Archives of Sexual Behavior·Scott W SemenynaPaul L Vasey
Dec 8, 2021·Evolutionary Psychology : an International Journal of Evolutionary Approaches to Psychology and Behavior·Gaëtan ThiebautPatrick Bonin

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