Date of Award

1992

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Psychology

Abstract

In this study (a) counselor-trainee attitudes toward AIDS victims in comparison with their attitudes toward rapists, (b) the variance of counselor-trainee attitudes according to source of transmission of the AIDS virus, and (c) the variance of counselor-trainee attitudes according to gender were investigated. Attitudes and reactions were assessed using a 30-adjective Semantic Differential Scale. Demographic data on ethnicity, age, gender, and counseling experience were also collected. One hundred and thirty-seven female and 58 male master's level students enrolled in counseling programs in five different universities read one of five written vignettes involving real life situations of either an AIDS client or a rapist. Vignettes were identical in describing the client's background and varied only as to the four sources of the AIDS virus and the rapist comparative condition. A principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation yielded seven orthogonal factors. An ANOVA on the Negative Evaluation Factor 1 yielded a significant F value of 27.624 (p $<$.00). Duncan's Multiple Range Test showed that rapists were evaluated significantly more negatively than the four groups of AIDS victims. An ANOVA on the Physical Potency Factor 4 yielded a significant F value of 4.712 (p $<$.001). Duncan's Multiple Range Test revealed that homosexuals and intravenous drug users were perceived as more weak and feminine than heterosexuals and blood transfusion recipients with AIDS. An ANOVA on the Personality Potency Factor 3 showed a significant F value of 5.970 (p =.015). Female counselor-trainees viewed AIDS victims and rapists as more nonaggressive and compliant than the male counselor-trainees viewed these groups. An ANOVA on the interaction of gender and condition yielded no significant effect for all seven factors.

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