Abstract:
Many studies have been conducted to observe the effect of contact on attitudes toward people with mental illnesses, but few studies have observed the effect of contact on attitudes toward individuals on the autism spectrum specifically. This study investigates the correlation between the amount of contact with an individual on the autism spectrum and attitudes toward individuals on the autism spectrum. In addition, this study attempts to prove that negative
symptoms (such as not talking) encourage positive attitudes more than positive symptoms (such as fits of anger). Over a period of approximately 3 months, 218 Ball State University students were asked to complete an online survey which included several scales testing attitudes toward the autism spectrum. They also read vignettes displaying individuals on the autism spectrum with positive and negative symptoms in both a frustrating situation and an everyday social
situation. They then completed more attitudinal questions based on the characters in the vignettes. Results showed a significant positive correlation between the amounts of contact a participant has had with an autistic individual and their willingness to spend time with them (social distance). Results also suggested that participants would be more willing to spend time with vignette subjects displaying negative symptoms rather than positive symptoms. The implications of these results and their applications to working with autistic individuals, as well as further possible research, are discussed.
