Date Presented

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Department

Psychology

Abstract

The current study examined how physical characteristics influence perceptions others have of people with Down syndrome (DS). Participants were shown one of four pictures, which were an adult male with Down syndrome facial characteristics, an adult male without Down syndrome facial characteristic, a male child with Down syndrome facial characteristic and a male child without Down syndrome facial characteristics. After viewing one of the four pictures with a description of likes and dislikes of the person in the picture, the participants completed a questionnaire examining perceptions of cognitive-behavioral competence, emotional distance- discomfort, and occupational ability. The hypothesis of this study was that participants would rate the people with DS characteristics more negatively than the people without DS characteristics. In addition, the adult with DS characteristics would be rated more negatively than the other combinations.

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