How Internalized Homonegativity Shapes Lives

"Internalized Homonegativity" may be running you into the ground without you even being aware of it.

"Internalized Homonegativity" or IH as it's known by psychologists, can make you believe you're wrong, bad or sinful for being gay.

It can make you believe in negative stereotypes about being gay--like maybe you're less worthy, less competent, or less desirable than heterosexual people.

It can make you feel uncomfortable with your own same-sex attraction. You may avoid situations where you're  around other gay people or it may try to suppress your same-sex feelings.

It can also make you fixated about straight reactions to your sexuality.

A new meta-study on the subject (they looked at 201 studies on the subject matter) reveals the grip Internalized Homonegativity has on us. 

Warning: Serious Depression Ahead

The study found that IH can cause serious problems like depression, anxiety, and harmful behaviors. It can also make people feel isolated and have low self-esteem.

The researchers argued that we need to be more aware of IH and find better ways to help people dealing with it.

Here are some important points from the study:

• IH can lead to both mental and physical health issues.
• People with IH may feel alone and have low self-esteem.
• IH can make people cope with their problems in harmful ways.
• We need to do more research to find the best ways to help people dealing with IH.

The study broke down IH into four parts

1. Negative attitudes: People with IH have negative thoughts about being lesbian, gay, or bisexual.
2. Self-stigma: People with IH believe they're not as good as others because they're lesbian, gay, or bisexual.
3. Discomfort with same-sex attraction: People with IH might feel uncomfortable about being attracted to people of the same sex.
4. Concern about others' reactions: People with IH worry about how others will react to them being lesbian, gay, or bisexual.

The study gave some examples of how IH can affect people. It can make them avoid being around other lesbian, gay, or bisexual people. It can make them hide their sexual orientation. It might even lead them to do risky things or develop mental health problems. In some cases, they might even think about suicide.

The researchers concluded that IH is a serious issue that can deeply affect people's lives. They encouraged more awareness about IH and its harmful effects. They also urged for more research on how to help people dealing with IH.

Since this study, more research has confirmed that IH can lead to poor mental and physical health. This research has important lessons for people who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual, mental health professionals, and those who make policies. We need to create an environment where people can feel accepted and supported for who they are.

Some Examples of Internalized Homonegativity

To illustrate, let's turn our attention to Mark, an accomplished art director based in New York City. With a keen eye for aesthetics and an impressive resume to match, he leads a life envied by many. Yet, Mark's professional success is in stark contrast with his personal life, persistently marred by an invisible antagonist – Internalized Homonegativity (IH).

Delineated by the study, Walls et al, IH is the internalization of negative attitudes and beliefs about homosexuality by lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. Much like a silent epidemic, IH erodes from within, unseen but severely impactful.

In Mark's case, he finds himself perpetually at the mercy of societal stereotypes about homosexuality. He battles an inner critic that ceaselessly scrutinizes his behavior for being either "too gay" or "not gay enough." This pervasive self-doubt and introspection constitute a tangible example of how IH subtly insinuates itself.

In their thorough examination, Walls and his colleagues identify four dimensions of IH. To better understand the nuanced implications, let's delve into each facet.

Negative Attitudes: The Implicit Biases

Within the domain of "negative attitudes," Mark confronts a pervasive sense of moral transgression associated with his homosexuality. It's akin to existing in a constant state of self-judgment, where every facet of his sexual identity is under scrutiny.

"The experience of being gay often feels akin to navigating a minefield," Mark shares. "There's a constant fear of tripping on judgment, discrimination, or rejection." This sentiment encapsulates the essence of internalized negative attitudes, a relentless self-criticism informed by external biases.

Self-Stigma: The Internalized Stereotypes

An integral component of IH is the phenomenon of self-stigma. It's the internalization of society's stereotypes, prompting individuals like Mark to perceive themselves as inherently inferior to their heterosexual peers. He feels as though he's perpetually sidelined in life, playing second fiddle to a straight protagonist.

"Sometimes, I feel as if I am endlessly auditioning for a role I'm inherently unfit for," he confesses. This self-deprecating outlook stems from the corrosive influence of self-stigma.

Discomfort with Same-Sex Attraction: The Intrinsic Paradox

A notable aspect of IH is the paradoxical discomfort associated with one's own same-sex attraction. Mark, for instance, finds himself actively avoiding social situations involving other gay individuals, a counterintuitive self-alienation stemming from this internal struggle.

"It feels as if I'm inherently allergic to my own kind," Mark observes. His experiences capture the inherent paradox within IH, where an individual's sexual orientation, a part of their core identity, becomes a source of internal conflict.

Concern about Others' Reactions: The External Influence

Another dimension of IH is the pervasive concern about the reactions of others. Individuals with high levels of IH live in perpetual anxiety about potential rejection, discrimination, or harm due to their sexual orientation.

"I constantly find myself anticipating an adverse reaction," Mark admits, encapsulating the reality of countless others like him. The specter of external judgment, whether real or perceived, significantly exacerbates the impact of IH.

The repercussions of IH extend far beyond these individual experiences, permeating the lives of many lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals, even unbeknownst to them.

Walls et al. posit that IH is a significant predictor of poor mental and physical health among this population. The mental turmoil IH creates can lead to social isolation, diminished self-esteem, and maladaptive coping mechanisms, warranting further research and effective interventions.

The Stealthy Puppeteer

If we attempt to map the trajectory of Mark's day-to-day experiences, we find IH acting as an unseen puppeteer, pulling invisible strings. It works behind the scenes, dictating Mark's actions and emotions with an uncanny finesse.

The harmful influence of IH is not just restricted to mental health, but it can trigger physical health problems as well. Remember those seemingly random bouts of flu Mark suffers? Or his frequent headaches? It’s not just the fickle New York weather or the overworking, IH may be sneakily at play here.

This insight, although unsettling, has been established by a series of studies including Walls et al. (2016) that have confirmed IH as a significant predictor of not just poor mental health, but physical health too.

A Vicious Cycle

And just when you thought it couldn’t get worse, here’s the double whammy: IH is associated with social isolation. In Mark's case, this means he often finds himself avoiding social events with his gay friends, for fear of being too visibly 'gay'. In this self-imposed isolation, Mark's negative self-perceptions are left unchecked, creating a vicious cycle that only serves to reinforce his IH.

As a result, the potential for decreased self-esteem skyrockets. Mark, despite his professional successes, constantly feels like he’s lagging behind, like he's not quite 'enough'. This perpetual inadequacy takes a toll on his overall well-being.

Hazardous Coping Mechanisms

When your own mind feels like a battlefield, it’s only human to look for escapes. For Mark, this means the occasional indulgence in alcohol. Sometimes, it also means taking uncharacteristically risky decisions in his sexual life in an attempt to assert his identity. It's a dangerous game of Russian roulette, played in the hopes of gaining some semblance of control.

However, the coping mechanisms IH drives people towards are often as damaging as the problem itself. As the research indicates, Mark's behavior isn’t an exception. It's a pattern, a perilous one at that.

The Dire Aftermath

The implications of IH are far-reaching and deeply impactful. In the direst of cases, it can lead to mental health crises and suicide attempts.

Mark confided about moments when the despair seemed overwhelming, when it all appeared bleak and hopeless. "There are days when the weight seems unbearable," he said. It's a harsh reality check that underscores the grave consequences IH can engender.

The study by Walls et al. calls for increased awareness about IH and its insidious effects. Since its publication, the understanding of IH and its negative implications have grown, reaffirming IH's role in jeopardizing mental and physical health, fostering social isolation, lowering self-esteem, and promoting harmful coping strategies.

The evidence points to a pressing need for further research and effective interventions aimed at mitigating IH. More importantly, the narrative emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the struggle of individuals like Mark who, despite the outward appearance of a well-orchestrated life, grapple with this internal adversary on a daily basis.