Attractiveness Stereotype, Severity of Illness, and Perceptions of a Child Target: Does Cancer Induce Unique Attributional Judgments?

ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Alexandra Telk (Creator)
Institution
Appalachian State University (ASU )
Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/
Advisor
Doris Bazzini

Abstract: Given that previous research provides conflicting evidence regarding perceptions of a target with cancer, the current study aimed to identify whether severity of this illness drives perceptions or if the diagnosis of cancer holds unique stereotypes in judgment. Two hundred ninety-four college students were presented with a stimulus paragraph about a 10-year-old female child who was described as being in good health or as suffering from one of three illness conditions: (a) a fictitious illness called Haltmar’s disease, described like a brain tumor; (b) a fictitious illness called Haltmar’s disease, described like cancer; or (c) the diagnosis of cancer. A photo of a 10-year-old girl manipulated to look healthy or unhealthy accompanied the materials. Thus, the study employed a 4 (illness) x 2 (child appearance) factorial ANOVA. Results indicated that favorability for the child target was not linearly influenced by severity of illness and a cancer stereotype was not observed. An attractiveness stereotype was not detected in the current findings and participants’ Just World Beliefs did not impact perceptions of the target. However, when the child was portrayed as sickly and unattractive, the illness label was influential on ratings of likability.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Telk, A. (2012). Attractiveness Stereotype, Severity of Illness, and Perceptions of a Child Target: Does Cancer Induce Unique Attributional Judgments? Unpublished master’s thesis. Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.
Language: English
Date: 2012
Keywords
cancer, attractiveness stereotype, illness, just world belief, perception

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