A study on social distance towards handicapped people for adolescent students

セイネンキ　ノ　ガクセイ　ヲ　タイショウ　ト　シタ　ショウガイシャ　ニ　タイスル　シャカイテキ　キョリ　ノ　ケントウ

ムトウ, マミ

Muto, Mami

釘原, 直樹

クギハラ, ナオキ

Kugihara, Naoki

オオサカ ダイガク ダイガクイン ニンゲン カガク ケンキュウカ タイジン シャカイ シンリガク ケンキュウシツ

社会的距離

態度

NIMBY

精神障害者

minority groups in society

social distance

attitude

mental illness

The structure of social distance towards minority groups (handicapped people) in adolescent was investigated by using a within-participant factorial design to evaluate targets consisting of scenarios of targets (image of people with mental illness vs. no image of people with mental illness). Students (5men and 60women; Age: M = 21.63, SD= 5.82) participated in the study. Participants responded to the Social Distance Scale, which is composed of items related to behaviors, cognitions and emotions. Results indicated that cognition and emotions induced negative behaviors directed at people with mental illness (minority targets), and that the three elements of social distance covaried with each other and caused psychological exclusion of minority groups. On the other hand, emotions didn’t induce negative behaviors directed at no image of people with mental illness. These findings indicate that psycho-education should be undertaken with local residents to change their cognitions and emotions regarding minorities,including handicapped people. This is expected to facilitate support for the community life of minorities and help achieve social inclusion.

釘原, 直樹