NCJ Number
120100
Journal
AIDS Education and Prevention Volume: 1 Issue: 3 Dated: (Fall 1989) Pages: 194-221
Date Published
1989
Length
28 pages
Annotation
Three studies were conducted using cognitive-social methods for encouraging the public to give psychological and social support to people with AIDS, based on analyses of the combination of fear and compassion that characterizes public attitudes toward people with AIDS and on methods of increasing altruism and reducing fear.
Abstract
The research adapted the health belief model outlined by Becker and Janz. The first study used 192 college undergraduates, whose cognitive and abbreviated group desensitization through the use of readings focused on casual contact with people with AIDS. The two approaches were equally effective in reducing social anxiety related to people with AIDS. In the second study the 53 participants used improvisational role playing of people with AIDS. The role playing increased positive attitudes and desires for altruistic actions, but it did not reduce measured fear. The third study used 58 undergraduates and three forms of mastery imagery guided by the experimenter. All three forms reduced social anxiety and increased AIDS altruism. These results may be relevant to reducing high-risk behavior as well as to reducing AIDS social stigma and social anxiety. Tables and 38 references. (Author abstract modified)