Title: Is a society that is welcoming to LGBT individuals hostile for Christians? Examining religion/sexual orientation zero-sum beliefs

Presenter: Assistant Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University

Website

Abstract: Several conservative Christian politicians have implied that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals impede Christians’ ability to practice their religion, and consequently proposed “religious freedom” legislation to combat anti-Christian bias. My talk will examine whether Christians perceive a zero-sum relationship and conflict between the bias their group experiences and bias experienced by LGBT individuals. On average, Christians report perceiving that anti-LGBT bias has decreased over time and that anti-Christian bias has correspondingly increased: in other words, that gains for one group come at a cost for the other. Christians’ zero-sum beliefs (ZSBs) are heightened in response to perceiving a changing cultural climate in which Christians’ influence is waning. ZSBs are driven by symbolic threat and amplified by considering religious values. A religious acceptance intervention successfully lowers ZSBs for mainline Christians. I will discuss current and future research directions as well as implications for sexual prejudice. 

Bio: Dr. Clara L. Wilkins is an Associate Professor in the department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. Before moving to WashU, she spent 7 years at Wesleyan University. She completed her Ph.D. and M.S. at the University of Washington and her B.A. with honors at Stanford University.  
 
A fellow of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology, she serves on several editorial boards including the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Her research has been supported by NSF, the Ford Foundation and Templeton Religion Trust. 
 
Dr. Wilkins’ research examines prejudice, stereotyping, and the self. She explores how social change (e.g. racial and gender progress) affects high-status groups’ perceptions of victimization. She also examines how variation in racial and ethnic minorities’ physical appearance shapes stereotyping and identification. The over-arching goal of her work is to understand social inequities in order to minimize their negative effects on individuals, groups and society. 

Title: Is a society that is welcoming to LGBT individuals hostile for Christians? Examining religion/sexual orientation zero-sum beliefs

Presenter: Assistant Professor of Psychological & Brain Sciences, Washington University

Website

Abstract: Several conservative Christian politicians have implied that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals impede Christians’ ability to practice their religion, and consequently proposed “religious freedom” legislation to combat anti-Christian bias. My talk will examine whether Christians perceive a zero-sum relationship and conflict between the bias their group experiences and bias experienced by LGBT individuals. On average, Christians report perceiving that anti-LGBT bias has decreased over time and that anti-Christian bias has correspondingly increased: in other words, that gains for one group come at a cost for the other. Christians’ zero-sum beliefs (ZSBs) are heightened in response to perceiving a changing cultural climate in which Christians’ influence is waning. ZSBs are driven by symbolic threat and amplified by considering religious values. A religious acceptance intervention successfully lowers ZSBs for mainline Christians. I will discuss current and future research directions as well as implications for sexual prejudice. 

Bio: Dr. Clara L. Wilkins is an Associate Professor in the department of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. Before moving to WashU, she spent 7 years at Wesleyan University. She completed her Ph.D. and M.S. at the University of Washington and her B.A. with honors at Stanford University.  
 
A fellow of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology, she serves on several editorial boards including the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology and Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Her research has been supported by NSF, the Ford Foundation and Templeton Religion Trust. 
 
Dr. Wilkins’ research examines prejudice, stereotyping, and the self. She explores how social change (e.g. racial and gender progress) affects high-status groups’ perceptions of victimization. She also examines how variation in racial and ethnic minorities’ physical appearance shapes stereotyping and identification. The over-arching goal of her work is to understand social inequities in order to minimize their negative effects on individuals, groups and society.