The science of stereotyping: Challenging the validity of ‘gaydar’

“Gaydar” — the purported ability to infer whether people are gay or straight based on their appearance — seemed to get a scientific boost from a 2008 study that concluded people could accurately guess someone’s sexual orientation based on photographs of their faces. In a new paper researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison challenge what they call “the gaydar myth.” William Cox, an assistant scientist in the Department of Psychology and the lead author, says gaydar isn’t accurate and is actually a harmful form of stereotyping.

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September 5, 2015 | Categories: Ethics, Psychology | Tags: behavior, behavioral science, Gender, Mental Health Stuff, negative stereotypes, peer reviewed, political issues, psychology, public health, science | Leave a comment