Exploring the impact of supercrip portrayal in TV drama: assessing attitude shifts toward people with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability

Abstract

Media’s influence on societal views of disability remains an area of developing understanding. This study scrutinizes how ‘supercrip’ narratives in TV dramas—depictions of individuals with disabilities exhibiting superpowers or conquering challenges—affect public attitudes. Using two different ‘supercrip’ examples and a control, the study explores multidimensional attitude shifts toward individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Intellectual Disability (ID) following exposure to ‘supercrip’ portrayals in fiction alongside a control stimulus. While realistic disability narratives did not significantly alter attitudes, responses varied with the disability type. Unrealistic portrayals, though eliciting mixed reactions, notably increased engagement and awareness of disability issues. The study indicates that increased viewer engagement and awareness could lead to nuanced, long-term attitude shifts. Notably, more authentic portrayals of ID did not markedly change attitudes toward ID but influenced cognitive attitudes toward ASD, underlining the complexity of audience responses. Positive disability representations in media can catalyze cognitive attitude shifts, but their broader impact on societal attitudes remains partially understood. This highlights the potential of media portrayals to foster attitude changes through sustained exposure, emphasizing the importance of diverse and thoughtful representations in media.