Social stereotyping of the physically handicapped.

Abstract

Although the hypothesis that the disabled are perceived as different is widely accepted, very little research has been done to delineate ways in which the disabled are viewed as different. The present research investigated three questions: On what dimensions are the disabled viewed as different frqm the able-bodied? Are differences, where they occur, in a positive or in a negative direction? Is there a general stereotype of the disabled such that persons with different disabilities are viewed similarly? To explore these issues, participants responded to a person description questionnaire on which they rated a person identified by either. age and sex (minimal description condition), age, sex and as a person the subject would like (liking condition), age, sex, and either blind, deaf, or confined to a wheelchair (disability conditions). Results indicated that in comparison tc the minimally described person and the liked person, the disabled person was viewed as less socially skilled, as more dependent, as more politically conservative, and as more personally good. It was also found that the blind, deaf and wheelchair persons were all described as being quite similar to each other.