Implicit Association Tests

Gay/Straight results: "

"Your data suggest a strong automatic preference for Straight People compared to Gay People."

First of all, I know that this statement does not mean that I prefer straight people over gay people. It is simply saying that I more easily link "gay" to "bad" and "straight" with "good." Based on this, I think the IAT did a pretty good job. However the test has its flaws, since (I presume) it ranks your preferences based on how quickly you answer a question, and since the test uses a similar structure throughout, the pattern becomes more and more obvious and speeds up response time.

The website states: "Most respondents find it easier to associate Gay people with Bad and Straight people with Good compared to the reverse."

I believe the main reason for this is that peoples' cultural and social backgrounds give the word "gay" and its synonyms a bad connotation. That's right, the word. So, when dealing with actual people, I think most people don't really prefer a person of a certain sexual orientation over another of a different orientation (unless they are also unconsciously romantically or sexually attracted to one of them, in which case it puts he/she at an advantage over the group you don't feel attracted to based on your sexual orientation). When dealing with the word "gay" though, your mind more easily associates it with negativity, because of certain stereotypes that you have learned.

Asian American / European American Results:

"Your data suggest a strong association of European American with American and Asian American with Foreign compared to Asian American with American and European American with Foreign."

This time around, I can definitely feel that it is easier (and faster) to press the same key in where Asian American and Foreign are grouped together or where European American and American. Both consciously and unconsciously I feel that there is a stronger association with the USA and people of European & Caucasian descent. It was an eye-opening experience.