Reactions toward dating peers with visual impairments.

Abstract

Examined 330 nondisabled young adults' thoughts, feelings and behavioral intentions concerning dating partially sighted and blind individuals and evaluated the impact of a "disabled" or an "able-bodied stereotype" on ratings. Results indicate that sighted young adults were seen more likely to date nondisabled individuals than partially sighted or blind peers and that sighted people think more negatively and feel less comfortable in dating contexts which involve someone with a visual impairment. Thoughts about reactions of friends to dating someone with a visual disability were particularly negative. Discomfort, negative thinking, and avoidance were not due to the stereotype manipulation. Implications for research on social integration and for counseling young adults with visual impairments concerning dating issues are discussed. Socializing and establishing relationships with both same and opposite sex peers is an important developmental task for young adults both with and without visual impairments (cf. Hansen, Watson-Perczel, & Christopher, 1989; Tobin & Hill, 1988). Indeed, dating and forming romantic attachments are an integral part of adolescents' and young adults' social development. Thus, it is hardly surprising that unattached individuals of both sexes experience a variety of concerns about dating issues. People with visual impairments have the same concerns about romantic relationships as do their nondisabled peers. Those integrated into the sighted community have concerns which relate to the impairment as well. These pertain to social isolation, opportunities for finding suitable partners, misconstrual of the nature of interest which is shown by opposite sex peers, and one's acceptance as a potential partner for sighted peers (

Does Volunteering With Children Affect Attitudes Toward Adults With Disabilities? A Prospective Study of Unequal Contact.

“…Casual interaction between individuals who do not know each other well is often problematic when one of them has a disability, and many nondisabled people are uncomfortable with those who have disabilities, regardless of the nature or severity of the impairments (e.g., Bruce, Harman, & Baker, 2000;Fichten, Amsel, Robillard, Sabourin, & Wright, 1997;Gordon, Minnes, & Holden, 1990). The data indicate that this is due to nondisabled individuals' discomfort and lack of ease with peers who have disabilities, their stereotyped characterizations of people with disabilities, and their negative attitudes and faulty assumptions about what people with disabilities are like (e.g., Fichten, Goodrick, Amsel, & McKenzie, 1991;Gouvier & Coon, 2002;Gouvier, Coon, Todd, & Fuller, 1994;Thomas, 2000;Yuker, 1992).…”

An experimental investigation into judgment and behavioral implications of disability‐based stereotypes in simulated work decisions: Evidence of shifting standards

“…As previously discussed, various studies have assessed the impact of stereotypes on judgment processes involving individuals with disabilities (Crocker et al, ; Deaux, Reid, Mizrahi, & Ethier, ; Elliott et al, ; Fichten, Goodrick, Amsel, & McKenzie, ; Jones et al, ; Kleck & Strenta, ; Leierer, Strohmer, & Kern, ). However, researchers have approached this subject from a point of view that often only considers the effect of stereotypes on judgment outcomes.…”

Control strivings in attaining peer-group membership and forming romantic relationships among adolescents with and without visual impairment

“…However, the former suggestion may be supported by the finding that adolescents with visual impairment report lower levels of internal locus of control (Kammerer et al, 2003), which could inhibit active control striving. Adolescents with visual impairment may expect that peers without disabilities are not interested in forming a romantic relationship with them (Fichten, Goodrick, Amsel and McKenzie, 1991) and that it would be less worthwhile to actively search for such a relationship. Moreover, many leisure activities are difficult for adolescents with severe visual impairments to pursue, such as playing soccer or video games with friends (Kroksmark and Nordell, 2001).…”