1. COPING-SUCCUMBING ATTITUDES TOWARD PHYSICAL AND MENTAL DISABILITIES.
- Author
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Jaques, Marceline E., Gaier, Eugene L., and Linkowski, Donald C.
- Subjects
DISABILITIES ,PSYCHOLOGICAL adaptation ,DESPAIR ,SOCIOLOGISTS ,INTERPERSONAL relations - Abstract
The article presents a discourse on coping-succumbing attitudes toward physical and mental disabilities. The concept of coping succumbing was introduced by sociologist B. Wright to describe behavioral reactions toward disability on a positive-negative continuum. The focus of coping behavior was on the adjustable aspects of a disability with the individual realistically appraising his difficulties and endeavoring to arrange his life in accordance with his abilities. In contrast, succumbing behavior was associated with distortion (a focusing on negative situational aspects frequently accompanied by unrealistic appraisals of situations), stress on liability, and an all-pervasive sense of despair. Several parameters of disability were isolated for study. The description of disabilities in psychologically meaningful terms was considered appropriate here rather than the use of medical or diagnostic labels. It was speculated that the layman's interpretation of disabilities is typically associated with readily identifiable stimulus characteristics.
- Published
- 1967
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