Demographic Differences to Attitude for the Construction of Close Relations with Disabilities

Abstract

The article presents the results of an empirical study of psychological differences in relation to intimate relationships (friendship, love, creation of a family) with disabled members of society. The analysis was carried out in the plane of residence of the person interviewed (village, urban-type settlement, towns of regional subordination, regional centers) For this purpose, the author’s methodology «Situational modeling of the attitude towards the disabled» was used, which is a set of 30 situational tasks aimed at identifying the attitude towards the disabled. It was found that only 7,2 % of the inhabitants of the cities of regional subordination allow for the establishment of close relations with the disabled. The smaller number of persons (6,4 %) who positively perceive the possibility of building close relations with the disabled were found among the inhabitants of urban-type settlements. At the same time, the possibility of dealing with a person with minor physical disabilities and working capacity was favorably evaluated. Practically the same number of inhabitants of oblast centers (4,2 %) and villages (4,4 %) allows for the establishment of close relations with the disabled in the presence of appropriate feelings. Negative assessment of the situation prevails among residents of regional centers (25,4 %). Such recipients show open disobedience to the disabled, verbal aggression, emphasize its inferiority, apply different forms of discrimination against it. A slight difference in indicators is observed among residents of urban-type settlements (23,3 %) and cities of regional subordination (22,2 %). They do not want to associate their lives with the disabled and avoid interaction with them, but do not show open hostility. Among the villagers, 19,2 % of people tend to avoid constructing close relations with the disabled.