Dissertations and Theses @ UNI
Availability
Open Access Thesis
Keywords
People with disabilities--Public opinion; Sociology of disability; Stigma (Social psychology); Academic theses;
Abstract
The phenomenon of physical disability stigma has been examined from many different perspectives, but a comprehensive theory of its functionality has yet to be tested. The evolutionary theory of stigma provides two compelling hypotheses, for stigma in general, and physical disability stigma in particular. The pathogen avoidance hypothesis maintains that stigma is an evolved response for protection against infectious diseases, whereas the social exchange concern hypothesis proposes that stigma serves to maximize fitness by cueing which interaction partners will contribute or detract most from one's well-being. The social exchange concern hypothesis frames physical disability stigma, especially, in a way that can be generative to further research as weII as interventions for stigma reduction. This study tested the social exchange concern hypothesis by creating a measure and a priming mechanism for the social exchange concern construct. Two-hundred participants (84 male) from a Midwestern university either received the priming mechanism first and then completed several measures, including the newly constructed Concern for Optimal Exchange (COE) scale, or they completed the several measures prior to receiving the priming mechanism. It was predicted that those who had higher social exchange concern would have more negative attitudes about persons with physical disabilities. In addition, priming social exchange concern was predicted to increase overall negative attitudes about persons with physical disabilities. The Concern for Optimal Exchange scale was internally reliable and was validated as a measure of social exchange concern. The COE scale also predicted discomfort in interactions with persons with disabilities and negative attitudes toward persons with disabilities better than the Perceived Vulnerability to Disease scale, another instrument used to assess stigma as an evolutionary adaptation. The priming mechanism for social exchange concern was not effective in altering COE or disability attitudes. This study successfully established a measure of social exchange concern and provided evidence that social exchange concern is linked to disability attitudes. This study adds empirical support for physical disability stigma being an evolutionary adaptation that maximizes benefits gained in social interactions.
Year of Submission
2011
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Department of Psychology
First Advisor
Helen Harton
Second Advisor
Mary Losch
Third Advisor
John Somervill
Date Original
2011
Object Description
1 PDF file (113 leaves)
Copyright
©2011 Thomas P. Dirth
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Recommended Citation
Dirth, Thomas P., "Not Giving Back: The Social Exchange Concern Hypothesis of Physical Disability Stigma" (2011). Dissertations and Theses @ UNI. 2498.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/etd/2498
Comments
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