Internalized Homophobia is a phenomenon that has been studied extensively in psychology, sociology, anthropology, and cultural studies. It refers to a situation where an individual comes to view themselves negatively because of their same-sex attraction or gender nonconformity. This concept was originally coined by psychologists and sociologists who wanted to understand why some people experience negative self-perception when they identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, etc. Researchers have found that internalized homophobia results from the combination of three factors – cognitive mechanisms, emotional mechanisms, and external social pressures.
Cognitive Mechanisms are the thoughts and beliefs that an individual holds about homosexuality and gender nonconformity. These can include negative stereotypes, such as "gays are promiscuous" or "transgender individuals are mentally ill." Cognitive mechanisms also encompass the ways that individuals may try to rationalize their sexual orientation or gender identity away, such as telling themselves that they are simply confused or experimenting.
Cognitive mechanisms involve how individuals process information about their own sexual orientation or gender identity; for example, someone with internalized homophobia might avoid thinking too much about their attractions or feelings, and instead focus on other things.
Emotional Mechanisms refer to the emotions that accompany internalized homophobia. People who suffer from it often experience shame, guilt, self-hatred, fear, anger, depression, loneliness, and isolation. They may feel unworthy of love, or even physically sick at times. They may blame themselves for being attracted to same-sex partners or expressing a different gender identity. Emotional Mechanisms are closely tied to cultural attitudes towards LGBTQ+ people in general, which can make them more severe if they live in a hostile environment.
External Social Pressures come into play when society reacts negatively to LGBTQ+ people. This could be through family members, religious institutions, schoolmates, employers, politicians, the media, etc., all of whom may view gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer people as deviant or immoral. These pressures create an atmosphere of disapproval that makes it hard for LGBTQ+ individuals to openly express themselves without risking social sanction. When internalized homophobia is combined with external social pressure, it becomes especially difficult to overcome.
What are the cognitive and emotional mechanisms underlying internalized homophobia, and how do they interact with external societal pressures and personal identity formation?
The term "internalized homophobia" describes an individual's negative beliefs about their sexual orientation, which can lead to feelings of shame, low self-esteem, and internal conflict. These beliefs often develop during childhood as a result of socialization experiences such as religious teachings, family attitudes, peer pressure, and media messages.