Influence of parents, teachers and peers on the judgment of situations of exclusion of homosexuals

Abstract

The literature has shown that peers, teachers, and parents play an important role in moral development, as well as in the decrease or increase of prejudice among children and adolescents. Regarding the specific issue of exclusion against homosexual individuals, studies in this area remain scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between messages conveyed by parents, teachers, and friends, and the judgments adolescents make about the exclusion of homosexual people. A total of 643 self-declared heterosexual adolescents participated and completed a self-administered questionnaire. The results revealed important differences in perceptions: teachers were identified as the main sources of positive messages about equality among people regardless of sexual orientation, while the topic appeared to be rarely discussed within families. Peers, in turn, stood out both for the frequency of egalitarian messages and for the presence of negative content. Gender differences were also observed. Correlational analyses indicated associations between positive messages and moral judgments rejecting exclusion, especially when such messages came from peers. Conversely, negative messages were associated with justifications that endorsed exclusion. The findings highlight the impact of social interactions on adolescents’ moral judgment and underscore the relevance of educational practices that promote equity.