Influence of Sexual Orientation and Time on Helping Behaviors

Seeking help from friends and family members is often more straightforward than reaching out to strangers. This disparity arises from the myriad considerations that run through an individual's mind when contemplating seeking assistance from unfamiliar persons. Factors such as the sexual orientation of the potential helper and the specific time of day play a pivotal role in influencing these decisions. These elements are crucial in determining how individuals behave when providing help.

In this research context, sexual orientation encompasses bisexual, homosexual, and heterosexual identities, while time of day pertains to the specific hours during which help is solicited.

This study aims to explore the influence of these variables on the helping behaviors of African American college students, assessing the likelihood of them extending assistance under varying circumstances.

Literature Review

Sexual orientation has been identified as a significant factor influencing helping behavior, with noticeable differences between men and women. For instance, a study by Shaw, Borough, and Fink (1994) noted that heterosexual men seeking help were more likely to receive assistance compared to bisexual or homosexual individuals. This study indicated similar responses from both males and females when approached by bisexuals and homosexuals (Shaw, Borough & Fink, 1994). Conversely, research conducted in Los Angeles found no significant impact of the requester's perceived sexual orientation on the likelihood of receiving help (Gabriel et al., 2001).

Further, a study in Germany, with parallels in the US and UK, revealed that shoppers were less inclined to assist individuals wearing clothing with pro-gay slogans compared to those without such slogans (Gray et al., 1991). In this case, the gender of the shoppers did not significantly influence their willingness to help. Collectively, these studies underscore the complex relationship between sexual orientation and helping behavior, although they agree that the requester's sexual orientation is a notable determinant.

Another collection of studies corroborates the influence of sexual orientation on helping behavior but adds that the requester's gender also plays a role. Gore et al. (1997) found that lesbians were more likely to receive assistance than gay men. In a British study, it was established that while both gay men and lesbians encounter discrimination, gay men face more severe bias when seeking help (Ellis & Fox, 2006). This study also highlighted that males were more likely to assist lesbians, whereas females were more inclined to help gay men. Thus, the helping behavior is intricately tied to the interplay between the requester's gender and the potential helper's gender.

Significantly, cultural differences also impact these dynamics. Research across the US, Germany, Great Britain, and Switzerland shows that gay men are more likely to encounter negative helping behaviors than lesbian women (Gabriel & Banse, 2006). These findings collectively suggest that while sexual orientation influences helping behaviors, the degree of influence is contingent upon the requester's gender, with females generally receiving more help than their male counterparts.

Method

The researcher employed the wrong call technique to gather primary data from African American college students. The study observed the time taken by respondents to return calls to individuals perceived as having different sexual orientations and analyzed the nature of the responses. Calls were made at various times—morning, noon, evening, and night—to evaluate the time of day’s impact on helping behaviors.

A research hypothesis was developed postulating that sexual orientation and time of day influence the helping behaviors of African American college students. The study utilized stratified sampling to ensure equal representation, targeting 60 respondents, evenly split between males and females aged 16 to 35. Confidentiality was maintained by not collecting the respondents' names or areas of study. A 2 x 2 x 2 Between-Subjects Factorial ANOVA design was conducted to examine the relationship between sexual orientation and helping behaviors, using time of day and sexual orientation as independent variables and helping behavior as the dependent variable. However, no significant effects were observed in this study.

Discussion

Data analysis plays a critical role in converting collected data into insightful information from which conclusive interpretations can be drawn. This research employed quantitative analysis techniques to process the data obtained from the respondents. By quantifying the responses, the study facilitated comparisons and categorized the respondents based on their behavior. Utilizing quantitative analysis is advantageous, as it enables inferential analysis, allowing the results from the sample population to be generalized to all college students.

Conclusion and Implications

The study's findings indicate that male participants were less likely to offer help to gay men than to lesbians, whereas female participants did not display a significant difference in their willingness to help based on the requester's sexual orientation. It was anticipated that heterosexual males would receive more help than homosexuals, particularly among male helpers. The research highlights the term homophobia, often used to describe negative attitudes towards lesbians and gay men. An experimental approach helps discern whether men harbor more negative attitudes towards homosexuals than women.

Since the 1960s, the concept of homosexual identity has been widely explored in literature, though it often leads to confusion and ambiguity. The multifaceted terminologies complicate comparisons between studies, and there is a lack of attempts to align theoretical proposals or data within the existing psychological literature on identity. Continuing with Vivienne C. Cass's research, certain assumptions about homosexual identity are discussed, including its synonymy with self-concept, childhood identity, sexual identity, and homosexuality as a distinct essence.

Most college students identify as heterosexual, bisexual, or homosexual. Homosexuals or lesbians are defined as individuals with same-sex attractions, while heterosexuals value opposite-sex attractions, and bisexuals are attracted to both sexes. The development of a homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual identity is a challenging process, often causing conflicts among African American college students. Encouraging positive behavioral interactions can motivate individuals to learn from scholars and apply this knowledge in their academic pursuits. The lack of family support and assistance in educational settings can lead to adverse situations for these students, impacting their future prospects.

Did you like this example?

477

25