Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The attentional mechanisms model of interaction strain

  • Published:
Journal of Developmental and Physical Disabilities Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Integration of people with physical and sensory disabilities requires effective interactions in occupational and recreational contexts. Major impediments are nondisabled individuals' discomfort, negative thoughts, and stereotyped characterizations. This article describes the Attentional Mechanisms Model of Interaction Strain (AMMIS), which integrates known findings about these cognitive and affective factors and generates hypotheses both about causes of interaction difficulties and about remedies. Ways to evaluate the model are proposed through: examination of attentional processes, exploration of attentional focus effects on affect, cognitions, and attitudes, and preparation and evaluation of intervention strategies based on the model. Implications of using the model are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adler, A. B., Wright, B. A., and Ulicny, G. R. (1991). Fundraising portrayals of people with disabilities: Donations and attitudes.Rehab. Psychol. 36: 231–240.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ammerman, R. T., Van Hasselt, V. B., and Hersen, M. (1987). The handicapped adolescent. In Van Hasselt, V. B., and Hersen, M. (eds.).Handbook of Adolescent Psychology, Pergamon Press, New York, pp. 313–423.

    Google Scholar 

  • Andersen, S. M., Klatzky, R. L., and Murray, J. (1990). Traits and social stereotypes: Efficiency differences in social information processing.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 59(2): 192–201.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, C. A., and Sedikides, C. (1991). Thinking about people: Contributions of a typological alternative to associationistic and dimensional models of person perception.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 60(2): 203–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1977). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change.Psychological Rev. 84: 191–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1982). Self-efficacy mechanism in human agency.Am Psychologist 37: 122–147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1986).Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Borden, J. W., Lowenbraun, P. B., Wolff, P. L. and Jones, A. (1993). Self-focused attention in panic disorder.Cogn. Ther. Res. 17: 413–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buss, A. H. (1980)Self-Consciousness and Social Anxiety, Freeman, San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, D. (1969). Attitudes and attraction. In Berkowitz, L. (ed.),Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, Academic Press, New York, Vol. 4, pp. 38–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carver, C. S., Peterson, L. M., Follansbee, D. J., and Scheier, M. F. (1983). Effects of self-difected attention on performance and persistence among persons high and low in test anxiety.Cogn. Ther. Res. 7: 333–354.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carver, C. S., and Scheier, M. F. (1981).Atention and Self-Regulation: A Control-Theory Approach to Human Behaviour, Springer-Verlag, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carver, C. S., and Scheier, M. F. (1986). Functional and dysfunctional responses to anxiety: The interaction between expectancies and self-focused attention. In Schwartzer, R. (ed.),Self-Related Cognitions in Anxiety and Motivation, Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ, pp. 111–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chanowitz, B., and Langer, E. (1981) Premature cognitive commitment.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 41: 1051–1063.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • COC (Canadian Organizing Committee for the International Year of Disabled Persons) (1981).Directions COC, Ottawa.

  • Condon, J. W., and Crano, W. D. (1988). Inferred evaluation and the relation between attitude similarity and interpersonal attraction.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 54: 789–797.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crocker, J., and Lutsky, N. (1986). Stigma and the dynamics of social cognition. In Ainlay, S. C., Becker, G., and Coleman, L. M. (eds.),The Dilemma of Difference, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 95–121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Curran, J. P., and Wessberg, H. (1981). Assessment of social inadequacy. In Barlow, D. (ed.),Behavioral Assessment of Adult Disorders, Guilford, New York, pp. 405–438.

    Google Scholar 

  • Daly, J. A., Vangelisti, A. L., Neels, H. L., and Cavanaugh, P. D. (1989). Pre-performance concerns associated with public speaking anxiety.Commun. Quart. 37: 39–53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eberly, C., Eberly, B., and Wright, K. (1981). Mental health professionals' attitude toward physically handicapped groups in attributionally ambigous and non-ambigous situationsCounsel Psychol. 28: 276–278.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliott, T. R., and Byrd, E. K. (1982) Media and disability.Rehab. Lit. 43(11–12): 348–355.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fenigstein, A., Scheier, M. F., and Buss, A. H. (1975). Public and private self-consciousness: Assessment and theory.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol. 43: 522–527.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fichten, C. S. (1986) Self, other and situation-referent automatic thoughts: Interaction between people who have a physical disability and those who do not.Cogn. Ther. Res. 10: 571–587.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fichten, C. S. (1988). Students with physical disabilities in higher education: Attitudes and beliefs that affect integration. In Yuker, H. E. (ed.),Attitudes Toward Persons with Disabilities, Springer, New York, pp. 171–186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fichten, C. S., and Amsel, R. (1986). Trait attributions about physically disabled college students: Circumflex analyses and methodological issues.J. Appl. Social Psychol. 16: 410–427.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fichten, C. S., and Amsel, R. (1988). Thoughts concerning interaction between college students who have a physical disability and their nondisabled peers.Rehab. Counsel. Bull. 32(1): 22–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fichten, C. S., Amsel, R., and Robillard, K. (1988). Issues in cognitive assessment: Task difficulty, reactivity of measurement, thought listing vs. inventory approaches, sequences vs. frequency counts.Behav. Assess. 10(4): 399–425.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fichten, C. S., Amsel, R., Robillard, K., and Tagalakis, V. (1991). Thoughts about interaction between nondisabled and disabled individuals: Situational constraints, States of Mind valenced thoughts.Cogn. Ther. Res. 15(5): 345–369.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fichten, C. S., and Bourdon, C. V. (1986). Sicial skill deficit or response inhibition: Interaction between wheelchair user and able-bodied college students.J. Coll. Stud. Pers. 27: 326–333.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fichten, C. S., Bourdon, C. V., Amsel, R. J., and Fox, L. (1987). Validation of the College Intraction Self-Efficacy Questionnaire: Students with and without disabilities.J. Coll. Stud. Pers. 28(5): 449–458.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fichten, C. S., Goodrick, G., Tagalakis, V., Amsel, R., and Libman, E. (1990). Getting along in college: Recommendations for students with disabilities and their professors.Rehab. Counsel. Bull. 34(2): 103–125.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fichten, C. S., Lennox, H., Robillard, K., Wright, J., and Amsel, R. (in press).Attentional Focus and Attitudes Toward Peers with Disabilities: Self Focusing and A Comparison of Modeling and Self-Disclosure. J. of Appl. Rehab. Counsel.

  • Fichten, C. S., Robillard, K., Judd, D., and Amsel, R. (1989). College students with a physical disability: Myths and realities.Rehab. Psychol. 34(4): 243–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fichten, C. S., Robillard, K., Lennox, H., Wright, J., Amsel, R. (1994).Attentional focus and novelty effects: Attitudes toward peers with disabilities. Manuscript submitted for publication.

  • Fichten, C. S., Robillard, K., Tagalakis, V., and Amsel, R. (1991). Casual interaction between college students with various disabilities and their nondisabled peers: The internal dialogue.Rehab. Psychol. 36(1): 3–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fiske, S. T., and Taylor, S. E. (1984).Social Cognition, Random House, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frable, D. E. S., Blackstone, T., and Scherbaum, C. (1990). Marginal and mindful: Deviants in social interactions.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 59(1): 140–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gambrill, E. (1977).Behavior Modification: Handbook of Assessmen, Intervention and Evaluation, Jossey-Bass, San Francisco.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbons, F. X., Stephan, W. G., Stephenson, B., and Petty, C. R. (1980). Reactions to stigmatized others: Response amplification vs. sympathy.J. Exp. Social Psychol. 16: 591–605.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, D. T., and Hixon, J. G. (1991). The trouble of thinking: Activation and application of stereotypic beliefs.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 60: 509–517.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, D. T., and Krull, D. S. (1988). Seeing less and knowing more: The benefits of perceptual ignorance.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 54: 193–202.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gilbert, D. T., Pelham, B. W., and Krull, D. S. (1988). On cognitive busyness: When person perceivers meet persons perceived.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 54: 733–740.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottman, E. (1963).Stigma, Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gresham, F. M. (1986). Strategies for enhancing the social outcomes of mainstreaming: A necessary ingredient for success. In Meisel, C. J. (ed.),Mainstreaming, Handicapped Children: Outcomes, Controversies, and New Directions, Lawrence Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heimberg, R. G., Dodge, C. S., and Becker, R. E. (1987). Social phobia. In Michelson, L. M., and Ascher, L. M. (eds.),Anxiety and Stress Disorders: Cognitive-Behavioral Assessment and Treatment, Guilford, New York, pp. 280–309.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hope, D. A., and Heimberg, R. G. (1987, November).Public and Private Self-Consciousness and Social Phobia, Presentation at the annual meeting of the Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy, Boston.

  • Horne, M. D. (1985).Attitudes Toward Handicapped Students: Professional, Peer, and Parent Reactions, Erlbaum, Hillsdale, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingram, R. E. (1990). Self-focused attention in clinical disorders: Review and a conceptual model.Psychological Bull. 107(2): 156–176.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ingram, R. E., and Kendall, P. C. (1987). The cognitive side of anxiety.Cogn. Ther. Res. 11: 523–526.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Katz, I. (1981).Stigma: A Social Psychological Analysis. Erlbaum, Hilldsdale, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, I., Hass, R. G., and Bailey, J. (1988). Attitudinal ambivalence and behavior toward people with disabilities. In Yuker, H. E. (ed.),Attitudes Toward Persons with Disabilities, Springer, New York, pp. 47–57.

    Google Scholar 

  • Katz, I., Wackenhut, J., and Glass, D. C. (1986). An ambivalence—amplification theory of behavior toward the stigmatized. In Worchel, S., and Austin, W. G. (eds.),Psychology of Intergroup Relations (second edition), Nelson-Hall, Chicago, pp. 103–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleck, R. (1966). Emotional arousal in interactions with stigmatized persons.Psychological Rep. 19: 12–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kleck, R. E., Ono, H., and Hastorf, A. H. (1966). The effect of physical deviance upon face-to-face interaction.Hum. Relat. 19: 425–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langer, E., Blank, A., and Chanowitz, B. (1978). The mindlessness of ostensibly thoughtful action: The role of “placebic” information in interpersonal interaction.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 36: 635–642.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langer, E. J. (1989a). Minding matters: The consequences of mindlessness-mindfulness. In Berkowitz, L. (ed.),Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, Academic, Orlando, FL, Vol. 22, pp.137–173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langer, E. J. (1989b),Mindfulness, Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langer, E. J., Bashner, R. S., and Chanowicz, B. (1985). Decreasing prejudice by increasing discrimination.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 49: 113–120.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langer, E. J., Fiske, S., Taylor, S., and Chanowitz, B. (1976). Stigman, staring and discomfort A novel-stimulus hypothesis.J. Exp. Social Psychol. 12: 451–463.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langer, E. J., and Piper, A. I. (1987). The prevention of mindlessness.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 53(2): 280–287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mahone, E. M., Bruch, M. A., and Heimberg, R. G. (1993). Focus of attention and social anxiety: The role of negative self-thoughts and perceived postitive attributes of the other. Cogn. Ther. Res. 17: 209–224.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marinelli, R. P., and Kelz, J. W. (1973). Anxiety and attitudes toward visibly disabled persons.Rehab. Counsel. Bull. 16(4): 198–205.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, R. (1991). Cited in Moses., S. (1991). Cognitive science aids in teaching how to think.APA Monitor 22(11): 42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers, D. G. (1990).Social Psychology, McGraw-Hill, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myszka, M. T., Galassi, J. P., and Ware, W. (1986). Comparison of cognitive assessment methods with heterosocially anxious college women.J. Counsel. Psychol. 33: 401–407.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nathanson, B. (1983). Attidudes and behaviors toward physically disabled students: Discussions with faculty.AHSSPE Bull, 1: 48–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newman, J. (1976). Faculty attitudes toward handicapped students.Rehab. Lit. 37(7): 194–197.

    Google Scholar 

  • Osborne, R. G., and Gilbert, D. T. (1992). The preoccupational hazards of life.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 62: 219–228.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scheier, M. F., and Carver, C. S. (1985). The Self-Consciousness Scale: A revised version for use with general population.J. Appl. Social Psychol. 15(8): 687–699.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sears, D. O., Freedman, J. L., and Peplau, L. A. (1985).Social Psychology, Prentice-Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Semmel, M. I., and Dickson, S. (1966). Connotative reactions of college students to disability labels,Except. Child. 32: 443–450.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Snyder, M., Kleck, R. E., Strenta, A., and Mentzer, S. (1979). Avoidance of the handicapped: An atributional ambiguity analysis.J. Personal. Social Psychol. 37: 2297–2306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stovall, C., and Sedlacek, W. E. (1983). Attitudes of male and female university students toward students with different physical disabilities.J. Coll. Stud. Person. 24: 325–330.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. E., and Crocker, J. (1981). Chematic bases of social information processing. In Higgins, E. T., Herman, C. P., and Zanna, M. P. (eds.),Social Cognition: The Ontario Symposium, Erlabaum, Hillsdate, NJ.

    Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, S. E., and Fiske, S. T. (1978). Salience, attention, and attribution: Top of the head phenomean. In Berkowitz, L. (ed.),Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, Academic Press, New York, Vol. 11, pp. 249–288.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weinberg, N. (1978). Modifying social stereotypes of the physically disabled.Rehab. Counsel. Bull. 22: 114–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wicklund, R. A., (1975). Objective self-awareness. In Berkowitz, L. (ed.),Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, Academic Press, New York, Vol. 8, pp. 233–275.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuker, H. E. (1992). Attitudes toward persons with disabilities: Conclusions from the data.Rehab. Psychol. News, 19(2): 17–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yuker, H. E. ed. (1988).Attitudes Toward Persons with Disabilities, Springer, New York.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dawson College and Sir Mortimer B. Davis, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada

    Catherine S. Fichten

  2. CLSC NDG-Montreal West, Montreal, Canada

    Kristen Robillard

  3. Université Laval, Québec, Canada

    Stéphane Sabourin

Authors
  1. Catherine S. Fichten
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Kristen Robillard
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Stéphane Sabourin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Fichten, C.S., Robillard, K. & Sabourin, S. The attentional mechanisms model of interaction strain. J Dev Phys Disabil 6, 239–254 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02578413

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02578413

Key Words

Search

Navigation