Date of Award

1996

Degree Name

Psychology

College

College of Liberal Arts

Type of Degree

M.A.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Dr. Christopher LeGrow

Second Advisor

Dr. Pamela Mulder

Third Advisor

Dr. Martin Amerikaner

Abstract

The differences in attitudes toward those with a mental illness was investigated, and the demographic factors that may be common among those who tend to reject the mentally ill was also investigated. Subjects read one of four vignettes which varied only by having no mental illness label (Just symptoms), having a mental illness label, having a mental illness label while seeking psychotherapy, or having a physical illness label. The subjects responded to statements in three different categories about the individual in the vignette: social distance, perceived dangerousness, and perceptions of society. Subjects also responded to statements about their level of experience with mental illnesses. The results indicated that subjects wanted the most social distance from the vignette portraying an individual with no mental illness label (just symptoms). Results also indicated that as the subjects' amount of experience with mental illnesses increased, their tendency to be more accepting increased. The findings about differences between the vignettes and effects of demographic factors are not congruent with past research, but results about the influence of experience on attitude is supported by past research.

Subject(s)

Mental illness -- Public opinion.

Attitude (Psychology)

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