The Effects of Intergroup Contact on Ableist Perceptions

Since the 1920s, societal status for people with disabilities in the United States has risen dramatically, as stigma and prejudice surrounding disability has decreased. However, ableism is still prevalent. Utilizing ideas from Gordon Allport and Thomas Pettigrew, the current research considers why people may be ableists, and explores variables associated with lower levels of ableism. This study examines whether participants’ levels of ableism were influenced by the amount of contact with people with disabilities and intergroup anxiety levels. It was hypothesized that increased contact with disabled individuals would be associated with decreased ableism and lower intergroup anxiety. Psychology undergraduates completed an online survey that measured participants’ contact occurrences with disabled individuals, intergroup anxiety levels, ableism, attitudes, and behavioral intentions. Correlations and regression analyses explored relationships between variables. Results suggest the importance of intergroup contact and intergroup anxiety, and their interaction, in understanding attitudes toward disabled individuals.