RAPID: The social psychology of judicial decisions affecting stigmatized groups

人们可能会因为各种原因而感到耻辱和歧视，包括宗教表达、政治意识形态、社会经济地位、种族、性别、民族和性取向。尽管研究已经研究了备受瞩目的司法裁决对被污名化的社会群体成员的结构性影响(经济、教育、医疗保健、法律)，但很少有工作研究其心理后果。也许目前在法庭上辩论的最引人注目的社会问题是，婚姻权利是否应该扩大到同性伴侣。这是一个复杂的问题，双方都发表了发自内心的观点。最高法院目前正在考虑同性婚姻禁令的合法性。无论判决的方向如何，这起案件都有望成为美国历史上的一个重要时刻。鉴于许多男女同性恋者因禁止同性婚姻而感到耻辱，目前的研究旨在检查这一裁决(无论结果如何)对男女同性恋者和异性恋对照群体的社会心理影响。借鉴耻辱和歧视的社会心理学理论，将测试一个调解模型，在该模型中，法院的裁决可能会通过改变个人对其被污名化身份的看法和与歧视相关的压力的主观感受而导致幸福感的变化。从这项研究中获得的知识将有助于我们理解政府层面的历史性决策对美国人健康相关心理过程的影响。为了检验这些问题，将招募1000名参与者(500名自我确认的男女同性恋者和500名异性恋比较者)进行纵向研究，他们在最高法院对同性婚姻做出裁决之前、裁决后2个月和裁决后6个月完成一项研究调查。与社会态度有关的心理变量的变化以及参与者如何体验他们的社会身份，以及这些变化对心理和身体健康的影响将被研究。这项研究将有助于我们理解人们对与他们的社会地位相关的司法裁决的反应所涉及的社会心理因素。这些结果很可能超越这一具体问题，并为理解其他司法裁决如何产生类似或不同的心理后果提供了一个平台。

People can feel stigmatized and discriminated against for a variety of reasons, including religious expression, political ideology, socioeconomic status, race, gender, ethnicity, and sexual orientation. Although research has examined the structural implications (economic, educational, healthcare, legal) of high profile judicial decisions for members of stigmatized social groups, very little work has studied the psychological consequences. Perhaps the most high profile social issue currently debated in the courts is whether marriage rights should extend to same-sex couples. This is a complex issue with heartfelt viewpoints expressed by people on both sides. The Supreme Court is currently considering the legality of same-sex marriage bans. This case promises to be a significant moment in American history regardless of the direction of the verdict. Given that many gay and lesbian individuals feel stigmatized by prohibitions against same-sex marriage, the current research is designed to examine the social psychological effects of this ruling (whichever way it turns out) on gay and lesbian individuals and a heterosexual comparison group. Drawing on social psychological theories of stigma and discrimination, a mediational model will be tested in which the court ruling may lead to changes in well-being by shifting individuals' perceptions of their stigmatized identity and subjective feelings of discrimination-related stress. The knowledge gained from this research will contribute to our understanding of the effect of historic government-level decisions on health-relevant psychological processes of Americans. To examine these questions, 1000 participants (500 self-identified gay and lesbian individuals and 500 heterosexual comparisons) will be recruited for a longitudinal study in which they complete a research survey prior to the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, 2 months post-ruling, and 6 months post-ruling. Changes in psychological variables related to social attitudes and how participants experience their social identities will be examined, as well as the effects of these changes on psychological and physical well-being. This study will inform our understanding of the social psychological factors involved in people's responses to judicial decisions that are relevant to their standing in society. These results are likely to extend beyond this specific issue and provide a platform for understanding how other judicial decisions might have similar or different psychological consequences.