SS76 - When Labels Matter: How the Label of an Autism Diagnosis Shapes Reactions to Social and Behavioral Misconduct in Schools
SCURS Disciplines
Psychology
Document Type
General Poster
Invited Presentation Choice
Not Applicable
Abstract
Public understanding of autism is shaped less by behavior itself than by how that behavior is framed, labeled, and interpreted within social encounters. This project asks whether individuals described as having an autism diagnosis are evaluated differently from individuals who display the same behaviors without an official diagnostic label. The hypothesis predicted that individuals described as having an autism diagnosis will receive different judgments of behavior, intent, competence, and social acceptability than individuals described without a diagnosis, even when the behaviors are identical. Participants engaged with fictional vignettes portraying everyday social norm violations and more serious misconduct, with conditions differing only in whether an autism diagnosis is disclosed. After reading each scenario, participants assessed responsibility, competence, intent, perceived threat, emotional reactions, and recommended consequences using standardized rating scales. Preliminary results suggest that diagnostic disclosure activates competing stereotypes that shape responses through both protective bias and dehumanizing judgment.
Keywords
autism, diagnosis, judgment, evaluation
Start Date
10-4-2026 9:30 AM
Location
University Readiness Center Greatroom
End Date
10-4-2026 11:30 AM
SS76 - When Labels Matter: How the Label of an Autism Diagnosis Shapes Reactions to Social and Behavioral Misconduct in Schools
University Readiness Center Greatroom
Public understanding of autism is shaped less by behavior itself than by how that behavior is framed, labeled, and interpreted within social encounters. This project asks whether individuals described as having an autism diagnosis are evaluated differently from individuals who display the same behaviors without an official diagnostic label. The hypothesis predicted that individuals described as having an autism diagnosis will receive different judgments of behavior, intent, competence, and social acceptability than individuals described without a diagnosis, even when the behaviors are identical. Participants engaged with fictional vignettes portraying everyday social norm violations and more serious misconduct, with conditions differing only in whether an autism diagnosis is disclosed. After reading each scenario, participants assessed responsibility, competence, intent, perceived threat, emotional reactions, and recommended consequences using standardized rating scales. Preliminary results suggest that diagnostic disclosure activates competing stereotypes that shape responses through both protective bias and dehumanizing judgment.