Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner (part II): further insights from primary school pupils’ social attitudes

The present research aims to extend findings from a recent study in which a large sample of primary and secondary school pupils was asked to choose a hypothetical classmate they would invite to share five different activities. Results demonstrated that a visible disability represents a barrier for social participation and involvement. In the present study, we investigated how the expression of a gesture of solidarity modulated participants’ attitudes. Moreover, unlike the previous study, in the present one, the responses from pupils with and without disability were scored separately. The findings strongly support the notion that a visible disability generates pity and motivates a tendency to protect, but only very seldom are typically developing children attracted by the idea of becoming a good friend of a peer with disability. While pupils with disability tended to consider the choice of a peer with disability a realistic option in all situations, for pupils without disability the choice of a peer with disability was a sort of forced choice when related to a gesture of solidarity and good-will, but only an abstract possibility in the social and sport activities.