Closets breed suspicion: Environments that stigmatize concealable identities cast doubt on claims to non-stigmatized identities

Abstract

Social environments that stigmatize concealable identities increase observers' suspicion that an individual's claimed identity is not their “true” identity. Identity-stigmatizing environments incentivize “closeting” (i.e., concealing) targeted identities, rendering claims to contrasting non-stigmatized identities ambiguous (e.g., self-protective? self-expressive?). Such ambiguity fosters identity suspicion. In three experimental studies with nine adult American samples (N = 3148), participants expressed more suspicion about an individual's claim to a non-stigmatized concealable identity within an environment that stigmatized (vs. affirmed) the contrasting concealable sexual (d = 0.40) or religious (d = 0.70) identity. Identity suspicion was strongest for individuals with attributes stereotypically associated with the stigmatized identity but persisted even for individuals with attributes stereotypically associated with the non-stigmatized identity (Study 2). Observers' perceived likelihood of identity suspicion predicted their perceived incentive for individuals to conceal attributes stereotypically associated with the stigmatized identity, even to the point of incurring personal costs (Study 1f).