A Gay-Friendly Public Service

Abstract

The article examines whether intrinsic psychological orientations influence the attitudes of public servants toward homosexuality. Using Schwartz’s typology of psychological orientations, and based on data from 24 countries, collected in two waves by the World Values Survey, the article develops two models: an individual and an aggregate cross-country model. The article finds support in the individual model for the argument that intrinsic psychological orientations that facilitate openness to change (self-direction, hedonism) and self-transcendence (universalism) have positive impact, while psychological orientations that emphasize conservation (security, conformity, tradition) and self-enhancement (achievement, economic power) have negative impact, on attitudes toward homosexuality. Extrinsic factors show to be significant influences on attitudes toward homosexuality in both models, but particularly on the aggregate level. The study concludes that to improve the attitudes of public servants toward homosexuality, public personnel administrators should encourage cultural openness and familiarity-building practices that reduce existential anxieties.