This study examines the relationship between beliefs about the nature of homosexuality and homophobia in the soccer context. Participated 184 Portuguese soccer players, most of them were male (74%) with a mean age of 24.5 years. Participants responded to scales of beliefs about homosexuality, prejudice and emotional expression. The results show that female participants expressed less prejudiced attitudes than male ones, and that younger expressed greater homophobia than older participants. Regarding beliefs, participants who more adhered to ethical-moral beliefs about the nature of homosexuality expressed more homophobic attitudes, while participants who more strongly endorsed belief on the cultural nature of homosexuality expressed less homophobic attitudes. The results are discussed in light of the role played by the beliefs about the nature of homosexuality as organising principles of homophobic prejudice.
prejudice; homophobia; essentialist beliefs; soccer
