UVM Theses and Dissertations
Format:
Print
Author:
Weibust, Kristin S.
Dept./Program:
Psychology
Year:
2007
Degree:
MA
Abstract:
It has been suggested the AIDS may be associated in people's minds with death because the illness is often considered a death sentence (Crandall, 1991; Pryor, Reeder, and Landau, 1999), and that this association may contribute to AIDS-related stigma. However, this hypos thesishas never been empirically tested. The notion that the association of death with AIDS increases the stigmatization of persons with AIDS is consistent with terror management theory, which describes the effects of subconscious fears of death. Terror management theory research finds that when mortality is made salient people tend to prefer things/people who uphold their cultural worldviews and to derogate those that threaten their worldviews.
Two studies examined the role of death anxiety in the stigmatization of persons with AIDS. Study 1 found that consciously thinking about AIDS primes people with thoughts about death. Study 2 found that mortality salience decreases people's desire to socially distance themselves from a person with AIDS. Explanations for the current findings and implications for AIDS-related stigma are discussed.
Two studies examined the role of death anxiety in the stigmatization of persons with AIDS. Study 1 found that consciously thinking about AIDS primes people with thoughts about death. Study 2 found that mortality salience decreases people's desire to socially distance themselves from a person with AIDS. Explanations for the current findings and implications for AIDS-related stigma are discussed.