Stereotypic attitudes and behavioral intentions toward handicapped children
American Journal of Mental Deficiency
|July 1, 1977
Summary
Junior high students held more favorable stereotypes toward crippled children than mentally retarded children, but showed no difference in behavioral intentions. This highlights challenges in attitude research towards disabled individuals.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Disability Studies
Background:
- Understanding adolescent attitudes towards individuals with disabilities is crucial for fostering inclusive environments.
- Previous research on attitudes toward disabled populations has faced significant methodological challenges.
- Stereotypes and behavioral intentions are key indicators of social acceptance and interaction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate junior high school students' attitudes towards mentally retarded and crippled children.
- To compare stereotypic attitudes and behavioral intentions across different handicapping conditions.
- To examine the influence of subject's sex and handicapped child's sex on these attitudes.
Main Methods:
- Survey administered to 56 junior high school students.
- Assessment of same- and opposite-sex ratings regarding stereotypes and behavioral intentions.
- Comparison of attitudes between mentally retarded and crippled child conditions.
Main Results:
- A significant main effect for handicap condition was found, with more favorable stereotypic attitudes towards the crippled child compared to the mentally retarded child.
- No significant differences in behavioral intentions were observed between the two handicapping conditions.
- The sex of the student and the sex of the handicapped child did not significantly influence attitude scores.
Conclusions:
- Adolescent stereotypic attitudes differ based on the nature of the disability, favoring physical over intellectual impairments.
- Behavioral intentions may not directly reflect underlying stereotypic attitudes towards different disability groups.
- Methodological limitations in attitude research necessitate careful consideration when interpreting findings related to handicapped populations.
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