André Ndobo

French Validation of the Multidimensional Attitude Scale Toward Persons with Disabilities (MAS): The Case of Attitudes Toward Autism and Their Moderating Factors

This research investigates the renewed interest in autism, the stigmatization of persons with autism and the need to better measure such stigmatization. Two studies were thus conducted on 101 and 104 participants in order to validate the French version of the Multidimensional Attitude Scale toward persons with disabilities, and examine the moderating effects of age, gender and contact on such attitudes. Both the exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses yielded a four-dimensional scale, indicating that the observed data fit with the theoretical model and that the sub-scale show an acceptable internal consistency. Results on moderating effect were less clear cut. The discussion deals with the measurement of attitudes toward people with autism as well as the role of social contact.

The ethno-racial segmentation jobs: The impacts of the occupational stereotypes on hiring decisions

ABSTRACT This paper considers both the division of the labor market and the occupational stereotyping as explanatory mechanisms of discrimination in hiring decisions. It hypothesized that recruiters would favor candidates applying for a position that is stereotypically identified with their ethnic category. We solicited 146 recruiters in order to evaluate the hireability of either a native-born or an immigrant candidate, either competent or not competent, for either a prestigious or a low-skill occupation, and to justify their decision in writing. As predicted, both the hireability ratings and the narrative comments produced by recruiters showed that native-born applicants were preferred for prestigious jobs while immigrants tended to be selected more often for low-skill positions.The discussion addresses various issues related to decision-making in recruitment settings.

The effects of descriptive, explanatory, and directive information associated with personalised interaction on the attitudes toward an adult with high-functioning autism

ABSTRACT Background The purpose of the present research was to analyse the impact of an educational message incorporating descriptive, explanatory, and directive information on the attitudes of young adults toward a peer with high-functioning autism (HFA). Method Engineering students (N = 104) completed the Multidimensional Attitudes Scale at 3 time points: before the educational message, afterward, then 1 month later. The message was delivered through a video with a voice-over or live by an actor playing the role of an adult with HFA in a situation of personalised interaction. Results Participants in the personalised interaction condition displayed significantly more positive attitudes than participants in control group and voice-over conditions. Conclusions Even a brief educational message, combined with a situation of personalised interaction, can influence adults’ attitudes. Generalisation of such an improvement to the outgroup (i.e., people on the spectrum) shall be discussed.

Spatial Inequalities, Geographically-Based Discrimination and Environmental Quality of Life

Residential segregation and social and spatial disparities are prevailing features among many European and American cities. These phenomena belong to social and spatial segregation, which is characterized by the differential distribution of groups within areal units and by the possibilities of various interactions between individuals who belong to similar or different groups. Social and spatial segregation can thus produce discrimination, which the present chapter addresses as an emerging question, while taking into account its institutional factors and psychological impacts. More precisely, this chapter focuses on the ways in which individuals, who live in discriminated residential places, perceive this discrimination, identify with their dwelling place and appropriate it. Our aim is also to investigate two psychological effects of perceived discrimination, namely self-esteem and well-being. Thus, we first argue that identification with one’s place of residence is a fundamental process in the individual’s relationship with such a place. Drawing on the psychosocial models of place identification, we then show how social and spatial discrimination can be experienced by the inhabitants of stigmatized neighborhoods and how spatial inequalities can influence the levels of residential satisfaction and quality of life. Lastly, we describe the ways in which discriminated individuals resort to several adaptive strategies so as to maintain a certain level of self-esteem, and, ultimately, of well-being.