To what extent do perceptions of aging vary across social strata? Previous research provides inconsistent findings, although it seems plausible that attitudes toward old age differ with age, social class, and ethnicity of respondents. However, issues of measurement (construct validity; reliability; dimensional equivalency) raise doubts on the…

When an older person confronts vision loss, the perceptual categories of space and time are disrupted. This forces newly blind older persons to question their ability to manipulate their environment and participate in social relationships. It makes them vulnerable to self-imposed tentativeness and externally generated labels of incompetence.…

Investigates the stereotypical attitudes of college students toward a variety of social situations involving Asian Americans. Examines the effects of differential labeling of Asian Americans regarding the attitudes held toward them. Results indicate that students did hold stereotypical attitudes toward Asian Americans and that these attitudes were…

Investigated the effect of violating politically correct label protocol in a counselor-profession relationship. Results taken from surveys which used either politically correct or politically incorrect labels showed that the group responding to the latter survey exhibited a more positive attitude than did those responding to the politically…

A study of 144 professionals in the field of visual impairment, 437 university students not enrolled in special education courses, and 316 students enrolled in special education courses, found differences in preferences for terms related to visual impairment. However, all groups found "visually disabled" to have negative connotations and "visually…

This study of interpersonal attraction and perception attempts to analyze the effects of co-operative versus competetive behavior and social position. Findings from the research project reveal that there exists a positive relationship between attraction and co-operation. Character extrapolations reinforce the theory of rationalization for an…

Our society has many misconceptions or stereotyped ideas about elderly people. These stereotyped ideas have from time to time been reflected in literature for both adults and young people. It is the purpose of this course to make secondary level students aware of the stereotyped ideas commonly held about the elderly and to enable them to recognize…

The author expresses concern about potentially damaging effects to mentally retarded persons from deinstitutionalization and normalization practices. Cited are the public's lack of awareness and the professionals' misplaced emphasis on researching the public attitude rather than improving the retardates' training. It is explained that there is a…

Professional sensitivity and responsibility must be used to describe giftedness in ways that do not isolate gifted children or their parents and which encourage shared advocacy with other educational groups. More information is needed on how labeling of gifted students and conceptual frameworks surrounding exceptionalities affect societal and…

Analysis of the responses to the Issues in Disability Scale made by 244 disabled and nondisabled persons suggests that the strain that frequently occurs during interactions between disabled and nondisabled individuals may derive more from misunderstandings of one another's expectations than from negative intentions. (Author/BJV)

Examines the historical definition and use of the term "mental retardation," and the 1992 revision of the term by the American Association on Mental Retardation that focuses on limitations in functioning rather than as a characteristic of an individual. Educational implications of the new definition are discussed. (CR)

College students (n=80) rated children labeled as male/female, "gifted"/"average" and gender-typical/gender-atypical in academic interests on 30 adjective scales. Children labeled "gifted" were rated closer to "odd" than to "fits in well." Gender-atypical boys were considered more "odd" and gender-atypical girls were rated less "odd" than were…

There have been several major theories proposed to account for the development of stereotypes of old people. The literature on stereotyping of the elderly is reviewed, with an emphasis on the attitudes of various health workers, especially physicians and psychiatrists. The theories and supporting data of the classical psychoanalytic theory,…

Since attitudes, expectations, and practices related to minorities and handicapped individuals are similiar, it is suggested that teacher education programs for these groups also be similar. Compatible components of special education and multieducational teacher competencies are discussed. (DF)