The Poor Are Perceived to Be Dirty and a Disease Risk

Abstract

Many studies investigating stereotypes about the poor overlook the historical fact that the poor have been viewed with disgust due to unsanitary working and living conditions. In four experiments using three different methods, we showed that the poor were viewed as dirty and disgusting, and were avoided in close contact. Experiments 1a and 1b showed that attributes related to disease and uncleanliness were ascribed to the poor compared to the nonpoor and to the rich. Experiment 2 showed that the poor were avoided in close contact, regardless of their race. Experiment 3 revealed a strong implicit poor-dirty/disease and rich-clean/healthy bias. Our results emphasize that disease avoidance is an important dimension in the social perception of the poor.