DISCRIMINATORY BIASES IN THE PERCEPTION OF ILLNESS - THE APPLICATION OF AVAILABILITY AND REPRESENTATIVENESS HEURISTICS TO THE AIDS CRISIS

The results of two experiments suggest that the "second epidemic" of AIDS - fear and prejudice towards AIDS patients - is the result of systematic memory and attributional biases. Subjects read case descriptions of hypothetical patients who varied on their sex, sexual preference, and who displayed symptoms of two different diseases. Subjects then indicated which disease they thought the patient had, and rated patient responsibility and interactional desirability. Consistent with an availability heuristic, either the more common (influenza) or the more publicized (AIDS) disease was chosen. Consistent with a representativeness heuristic, homosexuals were more likely perceived as having AIDS regardless of their symptoms, whereas heterosexuals were more likely perceived as having diseases other than AIDS. Also, support was found for patient derogation based on perceived illness. AIDS patients were viewed as more responsible for their illness and less interactionally desirable regardless of sexual preference.