Authoritarianism and Parenting: Individuals who grow up in authoritarian homes, where parents strictly enforce heterosexual norms and forbid same-sex desires, may develop homophobia as a way to cope with the resulting internal conflict.
The psychology of homophobia involves a combination of factors, including potential unconscious same-sex desires, insecurity about one's own masculinity or femininity, rigid personality traits, and the influence of authoritarian parenting and conservative cultural values. Research shows that homophobia can be a form of defensive reaction, where individuals who are highly self-deceptive may exhibit aversion rather than an underlying attraction to gay sex.
