SYMBOLIC PREJUDICE OR FEAR OF INFECTION - A FUNCTIONAL-ANALYSIS OF AIDS-RELATED STIGMA AMONG HETEROSEXUAL ADULTS

To determine whether attitudes toward a stigmatized group are primaril y instrumental or symbolic, multiple aspects of AIDS stigma were asses sed in a 2-wave telephone survey with a national probability sample of adults (N = 382). Using responses to the Attitude Functions Inventory , respondents were categorized according to the dominant psychological function served by their attitudes: (a) evaluative (based on instrume ntal concerns about personal risk for infection), or (b) expressive (b ased on a need to affirm one's self-concept by expressing personal val ues). Negative affect toward a person who contracted AIDS through homo sexual behavior, support for mandatory testing of so-called high-risk groups, and support for other punitive AIDS policies were predicted ma inly by attitudes toward gay men for heterosexuals with expressive att itudes but not for those with evaluative attitudes, a pattern labeled functional divergence. Behavioral intentions to avoid persons with AID S in various hypothetical situations were predicted primarily by belie fs about contagion for heterosexuals with expressive and evaluative at titudes alike, a pattern labeled functional consensus. Implications fo r AIDS education and for research based on the functional approach to attitudes are discussed.