Abstract

Using a quantitative coding method, the current study analyzed cinematic productions between the years 1989 and 2019 (N = 79) for presence of supercrip and victim stereotypes among portrayals of the physically disabled. A series of One-way ANOVA - Bonferonni and Bivariate Correlation tests were performed, and results indicated that while negative and supercrip stereotypes of the physically disabled have decreased over this 30-year period, simultaneously, very positive and victim stereotypes have risen. Results showed negative (F = 3.215, p = .046) portrayals decreased over time, but that simultaneously victim (F = 8.044, p = .001) and very positive (F = 3.43, p = .037) portrayals rose. For supercrip the results were not significant. Significance was found in neutral portrayals in the 90s (M = 0.48) and both the 00s (M = 0.77) and the 10s (M = 0.88). This indicated a notable increase in the number of neutral portrayals over time. Findings suggest that while there is some decrease in the number of negative and supercrip portrayals, portrayals seem to have shifted towards the other extreme with an increase in very positive and victim portrayals. Future research could examine what attitudes exist towards the physically disabled and how much media influenced the development of these attitudes. They could also look into how constructs of attitudes and subjective norms contribute to the perceptions of others towards the physically disabled, and how the "interactive process" impacts the development of these attitudes.

Degree

College and Department

Fine Arts and Communications; Communications

Rights

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