title: Cultural stereotypes and personal beliefs about individuals with dwarfism.
abstract: Three studies assessed the content of cultural stereotypes and personal beliefs regarding individuals with dwarfism among "average height" (i.e., non-dwarf) individuals. In Studies 1 and 2, undergraduates from three separate institutions selected adjectives to reflect traits constituting both the cultural stereotype about dwarves and their own personal beliefs about dwarves (cf. Devine & Elliot, 1995). The most commonly endorsed traits for the cultural stereotype tended to be negative (e.g., weird, incapable, childlike); the most commonly endorsed traits for personal beliefs were largely positive (e.g., capable, intelligent, kind). In Study 3, undergraduates from two separate institutions used an open-ended method to indicate their personal beliefs about dwarves (cf. Eagly, Mladinic, & Otto, 1994). Responses contained a mixture of positive and negative characteristics, suggesting a greater willingness to admit to negative personal beliefs using the open-ended method.
authors: Southeast Missouri State University, Department of Psychology, One University Plaza, MS 5700, Cape Girardeau, MO 63701, USA. jheider@semo.edu
authors: Jeremy D
authors: JD
authors: Heider
authors: Cory R
authors: CR
authors: Scherer
authors: John E
authors: JE
authors: Edlund
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003469:Culture; D004392:Dwarfism / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice / Q000523:psychology*; D012938:Social Perception; D013240:Stereotyping; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult