The Hierarchical Structure of Attitudes Toward the Exceptional

The structure of attitudes toward the exceptional was investigated using hierarchical factor analysis. The subjects were 132 men and 132 women college students who completed a 78 item social distance questionnaire (6 interpersonal situation and 13 categories of exceptionality-nonexceptionality). The results revealed a general factor concerning attitudes toward the disabled. This factor represented a common core of attitudes which cut across categories of disability and interpersonal situation. The general facto was differentiated into attitudes toward the physically disabled (with certain special emphases), attitudes toward the psychologically disabled, and attitudes toward the mildly retarded-nonexceptional. The last named factor was particularly provocative, indicating that, except for the closest interpersonal relationships (marriage and acceptance as close kin by marriage), the mildly retarded shared in the same configuration of attitudes as are held toward the nonexceptional. Attitudes toward the gifted emerged as a separate factor, isolated in virtually all instances from those held toward the disabled.