Skip to main content
Log in

Affective Guidance of Sexual Identity Construction: The Intra-psychological Level in the Service of Culture

  • Published:
Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A look at homophobia from the perspective of dialogical self provides an opportunity to investigate the intra-psychological level of its psychological bases. Homophobia is a result of socio-cultural guidance of internalization. It can be viewed as an internalized, transformed, and integrated social message that has penetrated the personal core of the self and which becomes externalized in various social contexts. Through the internalized personal construction of homophobia we can observe how social control by institutions reaches its maximum extension into the human mind.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abbey, E., & Valsiner, J. (2004). Emergence of meanings through ambivalence. Forum Qualitative Social Research, 6(1), Art. 23.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams, E. H., Wrigth, W. L. Jr., & Lohr, A. B. (1996). Is homophobia associated with homosexual arousal? Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 105(3), 440–445.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bank, J. B., & Hansford, L. S. (2000). Gender and friendship: Why are men’s best same-sex friendships less intimate and supportive? Personal Relationships, 7, 63–78.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bernat, A. J., Calhoun, S. K., Adams, E. H., & Zeichner, A. (2001). Homophobia and physical aggression toward homosexual and heterosexual individuals. Jornal of Abnormal Psychology, 110(1), 179–187.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Britton, D. M. (1990). Homophobia and homosexuality: An analysis of boundary maintenance. The Sociological Quarterly, 31(3), 423–439.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gonçalves, M., & Machado, C. (2007). Homophobia: A dialogical-semiotic approach. Integrative Psychological & Behavioural Science, doi:10.1007/s12124-007-9034-7.

  • Herek, M. G. (2000). The psychology of sexual prejudice. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9(1), 19–22.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermans, H. J. M. (2001). The dialogical self: Toward a theory of personal and cultural positioning. Culture and Psychology, 7(3), 243–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hermans, H. J. M. (Ed.) (2002). Special Issue on dialogical self. Theory & Psychology, 12(2), 147–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kullasepp, K. (2006a). Identity construction of psychology students during their first year of studies: A longitudinal approach. European Journal of School Psychology, 4(2), 249–280.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kullasepp, K. (2006b). Becoming professional: External and intrapsychological level in the service of professional identity construction of psychology students. European Journal of School Psychology, 4(2), 335--345.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, R. A. (1978). Emotional intimacy among men. Journal of Social Issues, 34, 108–121.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Löfström, J. (1997). The birth of the queen/the modern homosexual: Historical explanations revisited. The editorial board of the sociological review. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mabry, J. B., & Silverstein, M. (2002). Solidarity, conflict, and ambivalence: Complementary or competing perspectives on intergenerational relationships. Journal of Marriage and Family, 64, 562–576.

    Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, A. P. Jr. (1976). Homophobia: Its roots and meanings. Homosexual Counseling Journal, 3, 23–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Madureira, A. F. (2007). The psychological basis of homophobia: Cultural construction of a barrier. Integrative Psychological & Behavioural Science, doi:10.1007/s12124-007-9024-9.

  • Moradi, B., van den Berg, J. J., & Epting, F. R. (2006). Intrapersonal and interpersonal manifestations of antilesbian and gay prejudice: An application of personal construct theory. Journal of Counselling Psychology, 53(1), 57–66.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Plummer, D. C. (2001). The quest for modern manhood: Masculine stereotypes, peer culture and the social significance of homophobia. Journal of Adolescence, 24, 15–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Salgado, J., & Hermans, H. J. M. (2005). The return of subjectivity: From a multiplicity of selves to the dialogical self. E-Journal of Applied Psychology: Clinical Section, 1(1), 3–13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Simão, L. M., & Valsiner, J. (Eds.) (2006). Otherness in question: Labyrinths of the self. Greenwich, CT.: Information Age Publishers.

  • Valsiner, J. (1997). Culture and the development of children’s action (2nd ed.). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ward, R. (1979). Typifications of homosexuals. Sociological Quarterly, 20, 423–441.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young-Bruehl, E. (2002). Homophobias: A diagnostic and political manual. Constellations, 9(2), 263–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Katrin Kullasepp.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kullasepp, K. Affective Guidance of Sexual Identity Construction: The Intra-psychological Level in the Service of Culture. Integr. psych. behav. 41, 272–284 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-007-9026-7

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12124-007-9026-7

Keywords

Navigation