Lecture 1: Attitudes towards individual's with impairment Flashcards
Define attitude
A relatively enduring organization of beliefs, feelings, and behavioural tendencies towards significant objects, groups, events, or symbols (ex. swastika)
What is the “A” in the ABC Model of Attitudes
Affective component: involves a person’s feelings/emotions about the attitude object. (i.e. “I am scared of spiders”)
What is the “B” in the ABC Model of Attitudes
Behavioural component: the way the attitude we have influences how we act or behave (i.e. “I will avoid spiders and scream if I see one”)
What is the “C” in the ABC Model of Attitudes
Cognitive component: this involves a person’s beliefs/knowledge about an attitude object (i.e. “I believe spiders are dangerous”)
The documentary “Shameless” was watched and the class discussed common societal attitudes towards disability.
Go look at it!
Perceptions of disability has _______ cross-culturally
“varied”
Give an example of how perceptions of disability have varied cross-culturally.
Greek & Romans: disability meant you were sick and inferior
Christians: disability = possessed by evil spirits
Darwinism: disabilities were “unfit” and should not be helped. Survival of the fittest.
Some African nations: disabilities were seen as good luck and pampered
Other African Nations: children born with disabilities were killed at birth.
What did Francis Galton do?
Used the normal distribution curve to establish a ranking system for characteristic traits considered to be desirable. The lower quadrant was undesirable an the upper quadrant represented progress
What are the American Adapted Physical Activity National Standards
if an intelligence score is two or more standard deviations below the mean, it is related to intellectual impairments (IQ of 70 or below)
Define a model
A simple representation of reality that helps us to understand how something works (like a looking glass used to view a concept like disability)
What is the Medical Model of Disability
- Focuses on assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of disability
- Based on the judgment of experts (doctors, etc.)
- Generalizes and defines groups of people (a label is put on them that can be debilitating to an individual. Ex. how much funding they receive and what jobs they are able to get.)
- Focus on rehabilitation; become more ‘normal’
What is the main difference between the Medical Model and the Social Model of Disability
The Medical Model puts blame on the individual; they are the problem.
The Social Model points away from the individual and claims that society has barriers that disables the individual. (ex. the language and stereotypes used against individuals. It can also be something physical like a building without access to a ramp. The person in a wheelchair is disabled by having only built stairs)
What is the Social Model of Disability
- Disability is created by a society which disables people
- Recognizes barriers that may disable individuals (environment, transportation, policies)
- Removes the label from an individual, separating the individual from their disability
- Brings a sense of empowerment to disabled people
Describe the Theory of Planned Behaviour
attitudes, subjective norms (societal views of what is appropriate), and perceived control (over a situation; self-efficacy) have an influence on intent which influences behaviour.
the stronger the intention to engage in a behaviour, the higher the probability for that behaviour to occur.
In the Theory of Planned Behaviour, which of the 3 personal aspects influence intention the most
Attitudes: Poor attitudes were shown to be the result of insufficient knowledge, and lack of experience
There is a Jan 11. reading on eclass about this study.
Another way of viewing the Theory of Planned Behaviour:
Label each variable in the following equation.
BI = (AB)W + (SN)W + PC(W)
BI = behavioural intention AB = attitude towards performing the behaviour SN = subjective norms related to performing the behaviour PC = perceived control over the situation W = empirically derived weights
Describe the Cognitive Dissonance Theory (WTF Theory)
Cognitive dissonance: experiencing discomfort when we behave in ways that are inconsistent with our beliefs
Discomfort is eased by reducing dissonance in two ways:
decreasing dissonance - finding a way to think about the problem that decreases the amount it goes against the individual’s beliefs
increasing consonance - finding a way to think about the problem that is in agreement with the individual’s beliefs
Give an example of the Cognitive Dissonance Theory
Smoking: A smoker was told smoking is bad, yet cannot seem to quit
Decrease dissonance: “My grandmother smoked and lived to be 93 years old!” “I am going to quit next year”
Increase consonance: “Smoking is fun” “Smoking relaxes me”
Why is labeling a problem (4)
- Linked with stigma (negative, socially unacceptable)
- Lean to stereotypes (overgeneralize)
- Lead to the spread phenomenon (one characteristic overshadows the individual)
- Can lead to negative self-fulfilling prophecies
What are some benefits of labeling (5)
- Facilitates communication
- Access funding
- Recieve treatment
- Access programs
- Sports classification
Define euphemism
One expression is used to replace another.
Ex. The Americal Association on Mental Retardation became The Americal association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (to get away from the term “retardation”)
What is the rights-based model: person-first language
- put the person before the disability: “person with a disability”
- rights-based approach: should have the right to vote and be employed
- disability is viewed as an unchangeable biologically-based trait of a person
What language should be avoided (4)
[Person-first point of view]
- implies that a person as a whole is disabled
- equates a person with their condition
- has a negative overtone (stroke VICTIM)
- Is regarded as a slur (cripple, retarded)
In the social model, what term is used instead of saying an individual has a disability.
impairment
Describe the Relational, Intersectional, and Experimental Model: Self-identification and Variation on DIsability Experiences
- Values the way people see themselves
- Recognizes difference in experiences, understanding, and identities
- “person who identifies as …” , “person who experiences disability”
What is an example of cultural/linguistic models (community specific terminology)
deaf vs Deaf
deaf: a person with a hearing impairment
Deaf: cultural minority; community
What is an example of comparative terminology and the distribution curve
Normal vs Abnormal
- Having a bell curve with the average in the middle and above average is seen as superior and below average is undesirable. Abnormal is put on the lower end. When we put disability on the lower end, it devalues those individuals
