“It’s not OK to talk to anyone this way”: Responding to Disability-Based Hate Crime

Abstract

Psychological research has highlighted national differences in responses to disability-based hate crime. However, there has been limited systematic exploration of the type of disability that is represented in hate crime scenarios, and of responses of disabled people . We surveyed N= 467 adults online, presenting them with disability-based hate crime scenarios. We systematically changed the disability of the hate crime target (deaf person or wheelchair user) across Hungary, Italy, Nordic countries, and the UK. We measured responses and intentions, direct contact with disabled people, identification as disabled, and reasons for their responses. Results showed cross-national differences, and higher helping intentions among disabled participants than non-disabled participants. Path analyses showed that anger and anxiety significantly mediated the association between direct contact with disabled people and helping intentions. Qualitative template analysis showed that intentions to help and avoid the incident from disabled and non-disabled people are motivated by a variety of reasons.