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How disability and assistive technologies knowledge might shape transhumanist orientations: a pilot study among
Alexandra Cobzeanu1, Bogdan Mihail Cobzeanu2, Oana Roxana Bitere-Popa2
1Department of Education Sciences, Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, Iași, Romania.
Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences
|July 14, 2026
Summary
This study found limited disability knowledge among Romanian adults, with sadness being a common emotional response. However, knowledge of assistive technologies bridged disability understanding and transhumanist views.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Disability Studies
- Technology Studies
Background:
- Understanding public perceptions of disability is crucial.
- The role of assistive technologies in shaping attitudes towards disability and human enhancement is under-explored.
- Transhumanism, a movement advocating for human enhancement, intersects with disability discourse.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate disability knowledge, interactions with people with disabilities (PWD), emotional responses, assistive technology familiarity, and transhumanist orientation in Romanian adults.
- To explore the relationships between these factors.
- To examine the mediating role of assistive technology knowledge.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study involving 863 Romanian adults (aged 19-45).
- Data collected on disability knowledge, PWD interactions, emotional responses, assistive technology familiarity, and transhumanist orientation.
- Statistical analyses to determine associations and mediation effects.
Main Results:
- Participants reported limited knowledge of disability and assistive technologies.
- Sadness was the predominant emotional response to disability.
- Greater disability knowledge correlated with higher assistive technology knowledge, predicting stronger transhumanist orientation.
- Assistive technology knowledge mediated the link between disability knowledge and transhumanist orientation.
- Positive interactions with PWD were associated with stronger transhumanist endorsement.
Conclusions:
- Assistive technologies may act as a bridge between disability understanding and human enhancement perspectives.
- Knowledge of assistive technologies is important in shaping contemporary disability attitudes.
- Further research is needed to explore these complex relationships in diverse populations.
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