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Actual and perceived attitudes towards deafness

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

Adrian Furnham  and
Sarah Lane
Adrian Furnham*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University College London
Sarah Lane
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University College London
*
1Address for correspondence: Dr Adrian Furnham, Department of Psychology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT.
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Synopsis

This study had two aims: first, to investigate the attitudes of deaf and hearing people towards deafness; and, secondly, to study the difference between how deaf people perceive the attitudes of hearing people towards deafness, and how hearing people perceive the attitudes of deaf people towards deafness. The results showed that the deaf had more negative attitudes towards deafness than the hearing. In addition, the deaf believed that hearing people have more negative attitudes to deafness than hearing people actually have. This lack of empathy between the two groups was discussed. The amount of contact with the deaf was found to be associated with more realistic and less stereotyped attitudes to the deaf. The results are discussed in the context of research on social interaction with disabled people.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 14 , Issue 2 , May 1984 , pp. 417 - 423
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1984

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