Social-cognitive biases underlying the development of ableism

Area of Science:

• Developmental Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Disabled people constitute the world's largest minority group, frequently experiencing prejudice and discrimination termed ableism.
• Ableism stems from rigid beliefs about ideal human bodies and minds, devaluing those who deviate.
• There is a notable lack of psychological research on ableism and its developmental origins.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how early childhood social-cognitive biases may contribute to the development of ableism.
• To examine four specific biases: prescriptive reasoning, promiscuous teleology, psychological essentialism, and the positivity bias.

Main Methods:

• Review foundational research on how selected social-cognitive biases manifest in early childhood.
• Speculate on the connection between these biases and the development of ableism.
• Outline potential avenues for future research.

Main Results:

• Prescriptive reasoning, promiscuous teleology, psychological essentialism, and the positivity bias are identified as potential contributors to ableism.
• Foundational research demonstrates the early childhood presence of these biases.

Conclusions:

• Understanding the role of social-cognitive biases in early development is a crucial first step in addressing and rejecting ableism.
• Further research is needed to fully elucidate the links between childhood biases and ableism.