Changing Perceptions through Contact

Contact has long been the major vehicle for changing beliefs and perceptions of minority groups. However, few studies in the area of integration of people with mental retardation have examined underlying assumptions of contact situations. Contact between volunteers and people with mental retardation at a Special Olympics' state games was examined within a theoretical framework wherein mental retardation was viewed as social construct and contact conceptualized within five components of contact theory. Theoretical and empirical study indicated that instances of negative effect limit the extent of change in perceptions the general public hold of people with mental retardation. However, contact, as compared to no contact, does contribute to positive changes in perceptions.