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This book reviews classic and current scholarship on the experience of disability, emphasizing interactions between persons with disabilities (PWD) and non-disabled people. With respect to the treatment and counseling of PWDs, social psychological approaches aim to avoid biased, simplistic, and prejudicial conclusions by putting people first--not their disabilities.
List of contents
- Preface
- Chapter 1 - Overview: The Social Psychology of Disability
- Chapter 2 - Fundamental Psychosocial Concepts for Understanding Disability
- Chapter 3 - Challenges: Stigma, Stereotyping, and Disability
- Chapter 4 - Attitudes Toward People with Disabilities
- Chapter 5 - Coping with and Adjusting to Disability
- Chapter 6 - Towards an Understanding of Disability Identity
- Chapter 7 - A Positive Psychology of Disability and Rehabilitation
- Chapter 8 - The Ecology of Disability
- References
- Index
About the author
Dana S. Dunn is Professor of Psychology and Assistant Dean for Special Projects at Moravian College. A social psychologist by training, his scholarship examines teaching, learning, and liberal education as well as the social psychology of disability. He received the Charles L. Brewer Award for Distinguished Teaching of Psychology from the American Psychological Foundation in 2013.
Summary
This is the first book to systematically review, update, organize, and critique the literature on the social psychology of disability in 30 years. The book gives pride of place to classic as well as contemporary concepts from the social psychology of disability and rehabilitation psychology that researchers and clinicians can use or adapt for their professional venues. The book's overarching message is an important one: The experience of most people with disabilities is not what nondisabled persons anticipate--contrary to the latter's beliefs and expectations, the former can lead full and normal lives. Thus, The Social Psychology of Disability is designed to counter stereotypical or biased perspectives aimed at an often overlooked minority group. The primary audience for the book is rehabilitation researchers and clinicians in psychology and allied fields (e.g., social work, nursing). A secondary audience includes policy makers and graduate students in rehabilitation and clinical psychology, as well as interested undergraduates.
Additional text
Overall, this is an excellent text. Dr. Dunn introduces a complex subject with great social impact in a manner that is accessible to all readers. . . The text is not only an informative introduction to the social psychology of disability, but also serves as a call into action for its readers.
