Feelings, opinions and behavior of LGB people as a consequence of the conducted referendum

Kožljan, Petra. (2014). Feelings, opinions and behavior of LGB people as a consequence of the conducted referendum. Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Psychology. [mentor Jelić, Margareta].

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Abstract

The conducted referendum on the Constitutional definiton of marriage as a bond between a man and a woman resulted in a strong and diverging public reaction. The goal of this research was to examine the feelings, opinions and behavior caused by the referendum in the LGB community. We decided to conduct a qualitative study in which data were gathered through interviews. The test group, chosen by the snowball method, comprised 11 participants. Results confirm that the referendum question was of a great personal and social importance to all participants, as it brought on certain changes. Most of the participants reported negative emotions immediately after the referendum, which decreased in intesity with the passing of time. Within almost all of the participants, some changes occured in the content of their thinking. The participants think more about politics and how easy the Constitution can be changed, but they are also thinking more about the idea of leaving the country. On the behavioral level there is an increase in proactivity, in the sense that they are more socially engaged and were trying to influence the decisions which affected them personally, and they engage in conversations on the subject with other people. Changes in interpersonal relations are very individual and depend on the closeness of the relation, but also depend on the characteristics of the individual. The current state of the LGB rights is viewed as inadequate, but positive changes are expected in the future.

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