Not “Born that Way”: Homophobic Social Preferences and Non‐Essentialism of Sexual Orientation in Childhood

ABSTRACT Although prejudice begins early in development, very few studies examine the developmental roots of homophobia. We explored the onset and developmental timecourse of homophobic social preferences as well as the cognitive and environmental factors predicting these preferences. We were particularly interested in whether children would essentialize orientation (e.g., consider it inborn and uncontrollable), since essentialism often positively correlates with prejudice but negatively correlates with adolescents’ and adults’ homophobia. As environmental predictors, we explored parents’ anti‐prejudiced values and children's LGBTQ contact. A diverse sample of participants from across the United States ( n = 128 6‐ to 9‐year‐olds, 60 girls & 68 boys, 42% White & 58% of color) selected between heteroparental and homoparental peers in a Playmate Preference Task and then completed an essentialism assessment. Parents reported their anti‐prejudiced values and children's LGBTQ contact. Homophobic social preferences were present by age seven and increased across childhood. Moreover, despite children's pervasive essentialist tendencies, participants overwhelmingly rejected the idea that being in a same‐gender versus other‐gender marriage reflects any internal uncontrollable characteristic. Instead, partic viewed this as a matter of choice. Essentialism was very low overall and did not predict social preferences. Instead, parents’ values and children's LGBTQ contact predicted these preferences. In sum, children view orientation as reflecting a choice rather than an intrinsic nature, and then rely on the adults in their lives to determine how to feel toward that choice. Homophobic social preferences therefore emerge early and in the context of behavioral views of orientation. Social, cognitive, and developmental implications are discussed.