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Attitudes toward people with disabilities: the perspective of attachment theory
Noa Vilchinsky1, Liora Findler, Shirli Werner
1Department of Psychology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 52900, Israel. noav18@inter.net.il
Objective:
Attachment theory was employed as the theoretical framework for the purpose of examining attitudes toward people with disabilities.
Method:
A total of 404 Jewish Israeli students without disabilities completed the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale Toward Persons With Disabilities (MAS) and the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (ECR).
Results:
Reading a scenario about an encounter with a person with a disability gave rise to more negative emotions than reading a similar scenario about an encounter with a person without a disability, regardless of participants' attachment orientations. However, attachment orientations moderated participants' positive cognitions and distancing behaviors.
Conclusions:
Findings suggest a dynamic process of self-regulation when reacting to a written scenario about people with disabilities. This process consists of an initial spontaneous negative emotional response accompanied by compensatory positive cognitions and behavioral tendencies.
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