Behind the stigma : stereotypes and reactions towards children and adults with down syndrome
Item Description
While there is plenty of research on how to remedy and rehabilitate people with disabilities, there remains scant research on the stigma they experience. Behavioral immune system theory argues that people with disabilities evoke a disgust reaction from non-disabled individuals because their physical and behavioral traits may be misidentified as markers of contagious disease. Stereotype content model theory complicates behavioral immune system theory by suggesting that although adults with disabilities may elicit a disgust reaction, the perceived warmth of childhood causes children with disabilities to elicit a pity reaction instead. To uncover the reason behind disability stigma we showed participants (N = 80) images of children and adults with and without disabilities and measured the participants’ reactions using self-report scales and eye-tracking. We hypothesized that participants would show a disgust reaction towards adults with disabilities and a pity reaction towards children with disabilities. Instead, our eye-tracking measure found no evidence of disgust and our self-report measure suggested that both children and adults with disabilities are seen as high-warmth and low-competence, indicating pity reactions. The implications of these findings could point to new ways to combat disability stigma.
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