Faculty Presentations
Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
6-2014
Disciplines
Gender and Sexuality | Health Psychology | Social Psychology
Abstract
Transgender (TG) individuals are an understudied group at high risk of experiencing discrimination and associated adverse mental health outcomes (IOM, 2011). Although many studies demonstrate that contact reduces negative attitudes toward out-groups, few studies have examined the link between contact and attitudes toward the TG community (Hill & Willoughby, 2005; Walchet al., 2012). This study represents one of the first attempts to understand how to effectively reduce stigma toward the TG community. Results indicate that education alone is not enough to change attitudes; in fact, there is some evidence that associating transgenderism with psychopathology may heighten stigma. Consistent with prior research on stigma towards the mentally ill, the current study suggests that both exposure to intimate media depictions of the “other” (Reinke et al., 2004) and perspective-taking (Mann & Himelein, 2008) could strengthen educational campaigns designed to combat stigma.
Related Resource
For a look at the preliminary data from this study, refer to Reducing Stigma toward the Transgender Community: An Evaluation of a Humanizing and Perspective-Taking Intervention.
Recommended Citation
Tompkins, Tanya L.; Livesay, Kay; Shields, Chloe N.; Talbot, Caitlyn C.; and Hillman, Kimberly M., "Reducing Stigma toward the Transgender Community: An Evaluation of a Humanizing and Perspective-Taking Intervention" (2014). Faculty Presentations. Presentation. Submission 1.
https://digitalcommons.linfield.edu/psycfac_pres/1
Comments
This presentation was given at the 10th Biennial Convention of the Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues, held in Portland, Oregon.