Who am I? Concepts of disability and their implications for people with learning difficulties
- 1 September 1995
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Informa UK Limited in Disability & Society
- Vol. 10 (3), 341-352
- https://doi.org/10.1080/09687599550023570
Abstract
The relationship between concepts of disability, group membership and self-concept was examined. It was argued that people with learning difficulties have been categorised, by non-disabled people, as 'belonging' to a devalued social group with a rigid boundary based on re level. Findings from studies of self-concept have shown little evidence of a sense of belonging. It was suggested that people with learning difficulties may prefer not to identify with this social group because of the negative effect it may have on their self-esteem. The analysis based on intergroup and social identity theories proposed that people with learning difficulties may be encouraged in creating a positive self-concept by abandoning the IQ criterion for social categorisation; softening the boundaries between disabled and non-disabled people; and adopting collective rather than individual strategies for social change.This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit:
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