Attitude Toward Lesbians and Gay Men Scale (ATLG)

Abstract

The Attitude Toward Lesbians and Gay Men Scale (ATLG) is a widely utilized Psychological scale developed by Gregory M. Herek to measure generalized Attitudes held by heterosexual individuals toward both lesbian women and gay men. This instrument is crucial for research into prejudice, discrimination, and the social Attitudes underlying phenomena such as Homophobia and heterosexism. It is notable for its two-factor structure, which allows researchers to assess attitudes toward gay men (ATG) and attitudes toward lesbians (ATL) separately, recognizing that these attitudes often diverge due to differing societal expectations regarding gender and sexuality.

The scale consists of 20 items and employs a 9-point Likert scale format, providing a robust measure of acceptance or rejection. Since its introduction, the ATLG has become a standard instrument in social psychology for studying sexual prejudice and its correlates, demonstrating high reliability and strong construct validity across diverse research settings.

Keywords

ATLG, Gregory Herek, Homophobia, Heterosexism, Attitudes toward gay men, Attitudes toward lesbians, Prejudice, Sexual orientation, Social psychology.

Authors

Gregory M. Herek.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the ATLG scale is to provide a reliable and comprehensive measure of heterosexual individuals’ cognitive and affective responses to homosexuality. It was designed to move beyond simplistic, unitary concepts like “homophobia” by providing a nuanced assessment of attitudes rooted in social and psychological functions, such as symbolic expression or ego-defensive needs.

This Psychological scale allows researchers to quantify the degree of acceptance or rejection of gay men and lesbians across various social contexts, including employment, family life, and social institutions. The differentiation between attitudes toward men and women in the scale is critical for understanding gender-specific prejudice, as research often reveals different levels of antagonism toward lesbians versus gay men.

Construct

The ATLG measures the psychological construct of generalized prejudice or negative Attitudes toward homosexual individuals, often conceptualized within the framework of Homophobia or heterosexism. Herek’s work suggests that these attitudes are multidimensional, functioning to express certain values (symbolic function) or to protect the individual’s self-esteem (ego-defensive function).

Specifically, the instrument is hypothesized to measure two distinct, yet correlated, dimensions: 1) Attitudes Toward Lesbians (ATL) and 2) Attitudes Toward Gay Men (ATG). Each subscale consists of 10 items, which collectively capture affective reactions, behavioral intentions, and moral judgments regarding the integration of gay and lesbian individuals into society.

Validity

The ATLG demonstrates strong evidence of Construct Validity. Studies have consistently shown that scores on the ATLG correlate logically with scores on related measures, such as political conservatism, adherence to traditional gender roles, and measures of social dominance orientation. Higher scores indicating more negative attitudes are associated with greater adherence to traditional norms and lower levels of tolerance.

Discriminant Validity is supported by the finding that the two subscales (ATL and ATG) are distinct enough to be analyzed separately, reflecting differences in how gender stereotypes influence prejudice toward gay men versus lesbians. Furthermore, the scale exhibits high Face Validity, as the items directly address acceptance or rejection of homosexual individuals and behaviors in social and institutional settings.

Reliability

The ATLG scale has consistently demonstrated high levels of internal consistency. Across numerous studies conducted since its inception, the overall scale typically yields a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient exceeding .90. The subscales are also highly reliable, with the Attitudes Toward Lesbians (ATL) subscale and the Attitudes Toward Gay Men (ATG) subscale generally reporting alpha values in the range of .85 to .95.

This high internal reliability indicates that the items within the scale are highly correlated and measure a unified underlying construct of anti-gay and anti-lesbian prejudice. Test-retest reliability has also been established, suggesting stable attitude scores over reasonable periods of time, confirming its utility as a reliable measure of enduring social Attitudes.

Factor Analysis

Early psychometric evaluations, including Herek’s initial 1984 Factor Analysis study, confirmed the hypothesized structure of the ATLG. The analysis reliably extracts two primary factors corresponding to the gender of the target group: one factor loads strongly with items related to lesbians (ATL), and the second factor loads strongly with items related to gay men (ATG).

This clear two-factor solution underscores the importance of gender differentiation in the study of sexual prejudice. While the two factors are positively correlated, their distinct nature supports the use of separate subscale scores to provide a more detailed understanding of the patterns of Homophobia observed in various populations, particularly concerning differences in views on male versus female same-sex relationships.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report Psychological scale measuring social attitudes.

Format: 20-item instrument utilizing a 9-point Likert scale, typically ranging from 1 (Strongly Agree) to 9 (Strongly Disagree).

Language Available: English (translated versions exist in many other languages for cross-cultural research).

Population Group: General population, typically administered to heterosexual adults and college students.

Age Group: Adolescents (16+) and Adults.

Population Details: Primarily used with non-clinical, non-homosexual samples to assess prejudice and social acceptance.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate their degree of agreement with statements concerning the social acceptability, morality, and fitness of lesbians and gay men.

Keywords

ATL, ATG, Prejudice measurement, Social Attitudes, Likert scale, Factor Analysis.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Information not publicly available.

Affiliation Email addresses: Information not provided in source material.

Correspondence Address: Information not provided in source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was developed and published in 1984 by Gregory M. Herek. Given its status as a widely cited research instrument, the ATLG is generally considered available for non-commercial academic research use without licensing fees, provided proper citation is given. Researchers should always consult the author or primary publications for specific usage guidelines.

The original PDF of the dissertation which contains the instrument can be downloaded here: http://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc4286/m2/1/high_res_d/dissertation.pdf

Reference’s

• Herek, G. M. (1984). Attitudes toward lesbians and gay men: A factor-analytic study. Journal of Homosexuality, 10(1-2), 39-51.
• Herek, G. M. (1984). Beyond “homophobia”: A social psychological perspective on attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Journal of Homosexuality, 10(1/2), 1-21.
• Herek, G. M. (1986a). The instrumentality of attitudes: Toward a neofunctional theory. Journal of Social Issues, 42, 99-114.
• Herek, G. M. (1986b). On heterosexual masculinity. American Behavioral Scientist, 29, 563-577.
• Herek, G. M. (1987). Can functions be measured? A new perspective on the functional approach to attitudes. Social Psychology Quarterly, 50, 285-303.
• Herek, G. M. (1988). Heterosexuals’ attitudes toward lesbians and gay men: Correlates and gender differences. Journal of Sex Research, 25, 451-477.
• Herek, G. M. (1990). The context of anti-gay violence: Notes on cultural and psychological heterosexism. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 5, 316-333.
• Herek, G. M. (2002). Gender gaps in public opinion about lesbians and gay men. Public Opinion Quarterly, 66, 40-66.
• Tureau, Zach‎ary L., (2003). College Student Identity and Attitudes Toward Gays and Lesbians. doctoral dissertation, University of North Texas.

Items of the Attitude Toward Lesbians and Gay Men Scale (ATLG)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. Lesbians just can’t fit into our society.
2. A woman’s homosexuality should not be a cause for job discrimination in any situation.
3. Female homosexuality is detrimental to society because it breaks down the natural divisions between the sexes.
4. State laws regulating private‚ consenting lesbian behavior should be loosened.
5. Female homosexuality is a sin.
6. The growing number of lesbians indicates a decline in American morals.
7. Female homosexuality in itself is no problem‚ but what society makes of it can be a problem.
8. Female homosexuality is a threat to many of our basic social institutions.
9. Female homosexuality is an inferior form of sexuality.
10. Lesbians are sick.
11. Male homosexual couples should be allowed to adopt children the same as heterosexual couples.
12. I think male homosexuals are disgusting.
13. Male homosexuals should not be allowed to teach school.
14. Male homosexuality is a perversion.
15. Just as in other species‚ male homosexuality is a natural expression of sexuality in human men.
16. If a man has homosexual feelings‚ he should do everything he can to overcome them.
17. I would not be upset if I learned that my son were a homosexual.
18. Homosexual behavior between two men is just plain wrong.
19. The idea of male homosexual marriages seems ridiculous to me.
20. Male homosexuality is merely a different kind of lifestyle that should not be condemned.

Strongly Agree 1‚ 2‚ 3‚ 4‚ 5‚ 6‚ 7‚ 8‚ 9 Strongly Disagree