Helpfulness as a Method of Reducing Support for Anti-Trans Legislation
Location
PANEL: Insights into Social Change & Human Behavior
CELA A019
Moderator: Mary Rose
Document Type
Presentation - Open Access
Start Date
5-1-2026 11:00 AM
End Date
5-1-2026 12:00 PM
Abstract
Over the last six years, there has been a substantial increase in legislation targeting the rights of transgender individuals. This onslaught of restrictive legislation can be severely detrimental to the mental and physical health of transgender people. The goal of this study is to understand if helping behavior can be effective at both decreasing anti-transgender attitudes and in turn, support for anti-transgender legislation. We used a quantitative two-time point method to test the effectiveness of helpfulness as a method of discrimination reduction. Participants first answered a series of questions collecting demographic information, attitudes toward transgender people, and the extent to which they have been involved in helping transgender people. In the second time point two weeks later, participants answered a series of scales about their attitudes toward transgender people and their support for anti-transgender legislation. Data analysis revealed that participants who valued altruistic behavior toward transgender people showed lower levels of symbolic and realistic threat, as well as a lower likelihood to vote in favor of anti-trans legislation. A secondary study working to find a causal connection between altruistic behavior and decreased discriminative voting practices is currently in progress. This study will use a similar two-time point design, with an experimental manipulation of the helpfulness variable added between the time point 1 and 2 surveys.
Keywords:
Legislation, Transgender, Integrated Threat Theory, Altruism
Recommended Citation
Totton, Rebecca; Carney, Justin (Jessie); Freifeld, Roxie; Holder, Nora; and Eppinga, Ali, "Helpfulness as a Method of Reducing Support for Anti-Trans Legislation" (2026). Research Symposium. 42.
https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/researchsymp/2026/presentations/42
Major
Psychology
Project Mentor(s)
Rebecca Totton, Psychology
2026
Helpfulness as a Method of Reducing Support for Anti-Trans Legislation
PANEL: Insights into Social Change & Human Behavior
CELA A019
Moderator: Mary Rose
Over the last six years, there has been a substantial increase in legislation targeting the rights of transgender individuals. This onslaught of restrictive legislation can be severely detrimental to the mental and physical health of transgender people. The goal of this study is to understand if helping behavior can be effective at both decreasing anti-transgender attitudes and in turn, support for anti-transgender legislation. We used a quantitative two-time point method to test the effectiveness of helpfulness as a method of discrimination reduction. Participants first answered a series of questions collecting demographic information, attitudes toward transgender people, and the extent to which they have been involved in helping transgender people. In the second time point two weeks later, participants answered a series of scales about their attitudes toward transgender people and their support for anti-transgender legislation. Data analysis revealed that participants who valued altruistic behavior toward transgender people showed lower levels of symbolic and realistic threat, as well as a lower likelihood to vote in favor of anti-trans legislation. A secondary study working to find a causal connection between altruistic behavior and decreased discriminative voting practices is currently in progress. This study will use a similar two-time point design, with an experimental manipulation of the helpfulness variable added between the time point 1 and 2 surveys.
Notes
Presenter: Justin Carney