The researchers who conducted this study wanted to compare what people believe about the intelligence of individuals with Down syndrome to what they believe about intelligence in general. They also wanted to see whether there would be differences in these beliefs between people who work with individuals with intellectual disabilities and those who don’t work with this population. The researchers expected that people would view intelligence in individuals with Down syndrome as less malleable (meaning less able to grow and change) than intelligence in general. The researchers also predicted that professionals working with people with intellectual disabilities might view intelligence in Down syndrome as more malleable than non-professionals would. Finally, they expected that believing that intelligence in Down syndrome is less malleable would lead people to make more stereotypical judgements and show more negative attitudes toward people with Down syndrome.
Participants were 136 adults: 55 professionals who work with people with intellectual disabilities, and 81 non-professionals recruited from the general community. Participants completed a questionnaire on the malleability of intelligence twice. In one version, participants rated how much they agreed with statements like, “People have a certain amount of intelligence, and people can’t really do much to change it.” In the other version, the researchers changed “people” to “people with trisomy 21” to assess beliefs about intelligence among those with Down syndrome. Participants also made judgments about the intelligence of children with Down syndrome based on photos and completed a reaction time task measuring automatic attitudes.
Both professionals and non-professionals viewed intelligence in Down syndrome as less malleable than general intelligence and there were no differences in beliefs about the malleability of intelligence in Down syndrome between professionals and community members. Beliefs about intelligence did predict negative attitudes toward people with Down syndrome for community members, but not for professionals. The more people believed intelligence in Down syndrome was fixed, the more negatively they judged the intelligence of people with Down syndrome.
This study sheds light on stereotyped perceptions of intelligence in Down syndrome. The findings could be used to help improve interactions and educational practices for people with intellectual disabilities. Future research should look at the beliefs of people with intellectual disabilities themselves and how those beliefs impact learning. Studies could also examine if these beliefs change over professionals’ careers.
