Abstract
The present study explored the relationship between open-minded thinking coping styles, and knowledge of and attitudes toward LGB individuals. Three hundred thirty-seven heterosexual college students (79.9% female and 41.4% European-American/White) at a large Western public university volunteered to participate in exchange for course credit. Questionnaires were used to measure study variables. Results of a canonical correlation analysis were consistent with previous research, suggesting that the less open-minded a person is, the less knowledge they have about and more negative attitudes they have toward LGB individuals, including their civil rights. In addition, an individualistic coping style was directly related to endorsement of LGB civil rights, suggesting that valuing autonomy may be connected to valuing others’ rights to autonomy. Future research should continue to evaluate this finding in addition to exploring ways of fostering open-minded thinking (Killen, 1997).