Lecture #2 Attitudes

Question 1

Some issues with ‘inspirational’ images/quotes about disabilities:

Answer 1

1- Highlight differences and encourages ‘well it could be worse’ thinking

2- Support superiority attitudes

3- Minimalize the real challenges that people with impairments and their families experience daily.

4- Inspiration without activism is exclusion

5- People are told they are inspirational for living an average life

however, disabled people can view these differently

Question 2

What is an Attitude?

Answer 2

• Learned tendency to approach or avoid
• About self, others, issues or objects
• Can be positive or negative
• Affects behaviour

Question 3

The Social Construction of Disability in a Society of Normalization: A social constructionist’s account of disability:

Answer 3

“The emergence of a notion of normalcy is what creates the “problem” of the disabled person.”

Question 4

How did the notion of Normal come about?

Answer 4

Adolphe Quetelet: statistician; applied “law of error” or the “bell curve phenomenon”, used to determine the “average” in humans, like height, weight, strength… and moral and social behaviours.

Question 5

Quetelet’s ideologies of Normal (1796-1847):

Answer 5

• Uses central tendencies on a bell curve
• Considered average or normal
  human characteristics to be how
  things ought to be

Question 6

Galton’s ideologies of Normal (1822-1911)

Answer 6

• Distributions and deviations
  from the mean
• Thought normal was an
  indication of mediocrity requiring improvement

Question 7

How are the standards of normality generated?

Answer 7

The point at which variation from the norm leads to disability experiences depends on the society is how standards of normality are generated.

Question 8

How to change attitudes towards disability?

Answer 8

1- Contact theory
2- Persuasive Communication Theory
3- Social Cognitive Theories

*each theory can be used to make recommendations to improve attitudes toward persons with impairments

Question 9

Contact Theory

Answer 9

• Relationship of equal status
• Planned and structured interaction
• Meaningful cooperative goals that promote respect
• Persists over time
• Pleasant, comfortable social climate

Question 10

Explain “Relationship of equal status”

Answer 10

2 classmates sitting in the same area, one with disability and another without

Question 11

Explain “Planned and structured interaction”

Answer 11

Simulation-like situation to know how to deal in certain situations dealing with disabled people.

Question 12

Explain “Meaningful cooperative goals that promote respect”

Answer 12

Making sure everyone performs well, to have a feeling of cooperation in joining

Question 13

Explain “Persists over time”

Answer 13

Educating people about the topic of disability over long periods of time , instead of it being a one-instructional day in a year

Question 14

Explain “Pleasant, comfortable social climate”

Answer 14

The less pleasant and comfortable the situation is, the less change of attitudes to the better

Question 15

Persuasive Communication Theory

Answer 15

• Uses persuasion, Direct and Indirect persuasion

Question 16

Direct Persuasion of Persuasive Communication Theory

Answer 16

Lectures, one-to-one talks, small group discussions, films…

Question 17

Indirect Persuasion of Persuasive Communication Theory

Answer 17

Personal contact, role playing, simulation…

Question 18

5 Phrases Disabled People Are Tired Of

Answer 18

• “You don’t look disabled”
• “I know someone with your disability and something that helped them was…”
• “I wish there was a cure for you”
• ” I am so sorry”

Question 19

Social Cognitive Theories

Answer 19

Influence of the social environment:
1- Group Dynamics Theory
2- Experiential and Observational Theory

Question 20

Group Dynamics Theory of the Social Cognitive Theory is:

Answer 20

• What other people think or feel influences what you think and feel
• Can be positive or negative
• Eg. whether or not your will is strong enough to not engage in smoking with friends

Question 21

Experiential and Observational Theory of the Social Cognitive Theory is:

Answer 21

• Opportunities to see things that changes your attitudes towards disability
• Eg. using a wheelchair to have full experience
• examining full access of infrastructure of buildings.

Question 22

Why are disability Simulations controversial?

Answer 22

Because they have both:
- Intended outcomes
- Unintended outcomes

Question 23

Intended outcomes of disability simulations:

Answer 23

• Heighten sensitivity and empathy
• Change attitudes and behaviours positively
• Raise awareness of marginalization and barriers

Question 24

Unintended outcomes of disability simulations:

Answer 24

• Do not capture lived experience of disability and may trivialize (make less of) it
• Discomfort on the part of participants when they identify with negative emotions assumed (e.g. stereotyping public stares)
• May offend members of the disability community
• May reinforce negative assumptions

Question 25

Why are Attitudes Important?

Answer 25

Because it impacts our behaviour and how we act.