Variant Reactions to Physical Disabilities

In an earlier study, a consistent preference pattern in the rank-ordering of various types of physical disabilities was demonstrated among children aged 10 and 11. We suggested this pattern reflected a widespread cultural value in our society. In the present paper we postulate two factors significant in the acquisition of a value: (1) the child's exposure to the value, and (2) the child's ability to learn the value. From the first factor we predicted that adults hold the same preference pattern to the various disabilities; and that Jewish and Italian children, coming from subcultures which, we believed, held different values related to physical appearance, would hold a different preference pattern. From the second factor we predicted that mentally retarded and emotionally disturbed children would hold preference patterns that differ from the normative. The results supported these hypotheses.