| This dissertation examines the influence of beliefs about justice and gender roles on prejudice against persons with AIDS. The tendency to attribute condemning characterological qualities to individuals who have experienced negative events has been noted by a number of social psychologists. The just world hypothesis argues that individuals who hold a belief in a just world would be more likely to blame the victim, in order to explain the cause of an event. In regard to other potential correlates of the stigma, gender role attitudes and perceived risk of contracting HIV may significantly influence the likelihood to blame persons with AIDS and are also included in this project. Survey data were collected from 600 undergraduates in introductory classes. Respondents were asked to evaluate vignettes in which stimulus persons were described as either having AIDS, terminal cancer or no disease. Therefore, the data set provides the opportunity to compare reactions to persons with AIDS to persons with another terminal illness and to those without an illness. Descriptions of the stimulus persons also varied by sex and status description (i.e., heterosexual, homosexual). Respondents were also surveyed in regard to their agreement with just world beliefs and gender role attitudes. Regression analysis indicates that persons with AIDS are judged to be less deserving of help and are attributed more negative personality characteristics than persons with cancer. Contrary to the just world hypothesis, evaluations of persons with a terminal illness (that is, neither AIDS or cancer) are not significantly affected by just world beliefs. In general, individuals with more liberal gender role attitudes: (1) report more positive evaluations for both persons with AIDS and persons with cancer; and, (2) are equally likely to differentiate between AIDS and cancer patients as compared to individuals with conservative attitudes. Persons who perceive vulnerability to AIDS are more likely to derogate. Further, respondents report differential evaluations for persons with AIDS and cancer based on other status descriptions. Hemophiliacs are consistently evaluated positively, while homosexuals and intravenous drug users are consistently evaluated negatively. These differences exist regardless of whether the stimulus person is described as having AIDS, cancer or no disease. |
