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Vol.4 , No. 4, Publication Date: Dec. 19, 2018, Page: 173-179
, divorced nonresidential (parents with less than 50% physical custody), and step- mothers and fathers. Because stereotypes can influence behavior, it is important to understand the stereotypic content attributed to these parent types. This study asked 268 participants to review common stereotypic content, as identified by previous research. attributed to these three types of parents and to denote the extent to which they believed each characteristic was applicable to each parent type. This was done to allow within and between group comparisons using <i>t tests</i>, which was consistent with the method of analysis used (i.e., stereotypic differential). The results empirically supported the notion that divorced residential parents were the most positively perceived, stepparents were viewed neutrally, and divorced nonresidential parents were the least positively perceived. Participants also perceived divorced residential and step- mothers more positively as compared to fathers, but divorced nonresidential fathers were perceived more positively than divorced nonresidential mothers. Implications of the findings are discussed. In summary, the results presented here empirically support the notion that individuals’ perceptions of different types of parents depend on their physical presence and marital status. One could also suggest that gender stereotypes of men and women influence intergroup comparisons as well.&picture=http://www.aascit.org/aascit/decorators/img/journal/929.jpg)
| [1] | Jessica Troilo, Department of Learning Sciences and Human Development, West Virginia University, Morgantown, USA. |
This study focused on comparing the stereotypic content of divorced residential (parents with a majority of physical custody), divorced nonresidential (parents with less than 50% physical custody), and step- mothers and fathers. Because stereotypes can influence behavior, it is important to understand the stereotypic content attributed to these parent types. This study asked 268 participants to review common stereotypic content, as identified by previous research. attributed to these three types of parents and to denote the extent to which they believed each characteristic was applicable to each parent type. This was done to allow within and between group comparisons using t tests, which was consistent with the method of analysis used (i.e., stereotypic differential). The results empirically supported the notion that divorced residential parents were the most positively perceived, stepparents were viewed neutrally, and divorced nonresidential parents were the least positively perceived. Participants also perceived divorced residential and step- mothers more positively as compared to fathers, but divorced nonresidential fathers were perceived more positively than divorced nonresidential mothers. Implications of the findings are discussed. In summary, the results presented here empirically support the notion that individuals’ perceptions of different types of parents depend on their physical presence and marital status. One could also suggest that gender stereotypes of men and women influence intergroup comparisons as well.
Keywords
Parent Stereotypes, Divorce Stereotypes, Stepparent Stereotypes
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