DETERMINANTS OF ATTITUDES TOWARD PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

Cognitive and affective components of attitudes toward people who have AIDS, people who are amputees, and people who are chronically depressed were examined in 108 undergraduates. Cognitions included a) stereotypes: characteristics attributed to group members, b) symbolic beliefs: beliefs that group members promote or threaten one's values, and c) attributions of control over the occurrence of the disability. Affect involved specific emotions elicited by group members. Attitudes were defined as overall evaluations of the groups. The four components were all useful predictors of attitudes toward people with disabilities, with different patterns of prediction for the different disabilities. The results are interpreted in terms of a multicomponent model of intergroup attitudes and are used to suggest methods for improving unfavorable attitudes toward people with disabilities.