The interplay of misperceptions and willingness to share opinions in full classroom networks: The case of opinions towards homosexuality

Nick Wuestenenk; Tom Nijs; Tobias H. Stark; Frank van Tubergen; Naomi Ellemers

doi:10.1016/j.socnet.2024.08.003

The interplay of misperceptions and willingness to share opinions in full classroom networks: The case of opinions towards homosexuality

Nick Wuestenenk
, Tom Nijs
, Tobias H. Stark^*
, Frank van Tubergen
, Naomi Ellemers

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

Social norms influence homophobic behavior, yet these norms are often misperceived. We study the extent to which friendship ties and group memberships are related to misperceptions of opinions towards homosexuality, and how these misperceptions are sustained in social networks through opinion sharing. We find that misperceptions lead individuals to be less willing to share their opinions with ethno-religious ingroup members, non-friends or with individuals whom they perceive to hold different opinions. Although differences observed in the context of this study are relatively small, they may add up over time. These results offer scope for interventions that try to reduce norm misperceptions between groups - as a way to stimulate social change towards a more tolerant society.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	25-35
Number of pages	11
Journal	Social Networks
Volume	80
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socnet.2024.08.003
Publication status	Published - Jan 2025

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors

Funding

This study is part of the research program Sustainable Cooperation - Roadmaps to Resilient Societies (SCOOP). The authors are grateful to the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW) for generously funding this research in the context of its 2017 Gravitation Program (grant number 024.003.025).

Funders	Funder number
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO)
Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW)	024.003.025

Keywords

Homosexuality
Misperceptions
Norms
Opinion sharing
Social networks

Access to Document

10.1016/j.socnet.2024.08.003Licence: CC BY

1-s2.0-S0378873324000467-mainFinal published version, 1.02 MBLicence: CC BY

Cite this

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title = "The interplay of misperceptions and willingness to share opinions in full classroom networks: The case of opinions towards homosexuality",

abstract = "Social norms influence homophobic behavior, yet these norms are often misperceived. We study the extent to which friendship ties and group memberships are related to misperceptions of opinions towards homosexuality, and how these misperceptions are sustained in social networks through opinion sharing. We find that misperceptions lead individuals to be less willing to share their opinions with ethno-religious ingroup members, non-friends or with individuals whom they perceive to hold different opinions. Although differences observed in the context of this study are relatively small, they may add up over time. These results offer scope for interventions that try to reduce norm misperceptions between groups - as a way to stimulate social change towards a more tolerant society.",

keywords = "Homosexuality, Misperceptions, Norms, Opinion sharing, Social networks",

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AU - van Tubergen, Frank

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N2 - Social norms influence homophobic behavior, yet these norms are often misperceived. We study the extent to which friendship ties and group memberships are related to misperceptions of opinions towards homosexuality, and how these misperceptions are sustained in social networks through opinion sharing. We find that misperceptions lead individuals to be less willing to share their opinions with ethno-religious ingroup members, non-friends or with individuals whom they perceive to hold different opinions. Although differences observed in the context of this study are relatively small, they may add up over time. These results offer scope for interventions that try to reduce norm misperceptions between groups - as a way to stimulate social change towards a more tolerant society.

AB - Social norms influence homophobic behavior, yet these norms are often misperceived. We study the extent to which friendship ties and group memberships are related to misperceptions of opinions towards homosexuality, and how these misperceptions are sustained in social networks through opinion sharing. We find that misperceptions lead individuals to be less willing to share their opinions with ethno-religious ingroup members, non-friends or with individuals whom they perceive to hold different opinions. Although differences observed in the context of this study are relatively small, they may add up over time. These results offer scope for interventions that try to reduce norm misperceptions between groups - as a way to stimulate social change towards a more tolerant society.

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KW - Norms

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KW - Social networks

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ER -

The interplay of misperceptions and willingness to share opinions in full classroom networks: The case of opinions towards homosexuality

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

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