Eliciting Help Without Pity: The Effect of Changing Media Images on Perceptions of Disability. Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kamenetsky, Stuart B.; Dimakos, Christina; Aslemand, Asal; Saleh, Amani; Ali-Mohammed, Saamiyah
• Is Part Of: Journal of social work in disability & rehabilitation. Volume 15:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 21
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: Attitudes -- charity images -- disability rights -- emotions -- helping behavior -- media -- perceptions -- pity; Social work with people with disabilities -- Periodicals; Sociology of disability -- Periodicals; People with disabilities -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; People with disabilities -- Legal status, laws, etc -- United States -- Periodicals; 362.405
• DOI: 10.1080/1536710X.2016.1124251
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1536-710X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This study investigated whether newer, more positive disability charity images can elicit helping behavior without producing pity. One hundred sixty-one university undergraduate students were presented with 35 older (1960–1990) and newer (1991–2010) disability charity images and completed a questionnaire about each image. Results indicate that overall, identification with depicted individuals was low; positive attitudes and perceptions of capabilities were moderate to high. Newer images led to more positive responses, but no significant difference in willingness to help. Eliciting pity through negative depictions of disability appears not to be a necessary precondition for eliciting helping behavior toward people with disabilities.