HOMOPHOBIA - CONCEPTUAL, DEFINITIONAL, AND VALUE ISSUES

The construct of homophobia and the psychometric properties of instrum ents purporting to measure homophobia are critically evaluated. The hi story of the term and its various definitions are briefly reviewed. We conclude that existing measures of homophobia have been inadequately psychometrically evaluated and therefore it is not clear whether curre ntly this construct can be accurately measured. It is also concluded t hat the construct of homophobia, as it is usually used, makes an illeg itimately pejorative evaluation of certain open and debatable value po sitions, much like the former disease construct of homosexuality. Fina lly, proposals for theory development and construct definition in the domain of reactions to homosexuals and homosexuality are provided.