Adding Insult to Injury: Blaming Persons with HIV Disease

Authors: Powell J.L.¹; Christensen C.²; Abbott A.S.²; Katz D.S.²

Source: AIDS and Behavior, Volume 02, Number 4, December 1998 , pp. 307-317(11)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the behavioral and characterological blame people make about persons living with HIV/AIDS. The two studies presented a description of a gay relationship and a heterosexual relationship after which it was revealed that either both partners tested positive for the AIDS virus, one partner tested positive, neither tested positive, or there was no mention of AIDS or HIV Several variables were found to be related to the blaming of persons with HIV/AIDS, including the perceived similarity of the participant to the people in the scenario and the participant's AIDS-related stigma. Results also suggest that gay couples are blamed regardless of the outcome of their behavior, whereas the blaming of heterosexual couples depends on the gender of the observer and the HIV status of one or both partners.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS; stigma; blame; prejudice

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: 1: Department of Psychology, University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut. JPOWELL@MAIL.HARTFORD.EDU 2: Department of Psychology, University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut

Publication date: 1998-12-01