Attitudes toward the unemployed

The present study examined whether political orientation, experience of unemployment or with the unemployed, and/or occupational background predicted three dimensions of attitudes expressed toward the unemployed in conversation. The three dimensions were: nature of attitude, variability in attitude, and form of attitude. Sixty-seven employed individuals participated. Political orientation was found to be a good predictor of the nature of and variability in attitudes toward the unemployed. It was also a good predictor of the form with which attitudes were expressed in general, with political moderates using fewer generalizations than those who were politically polarized, but it was not a good predictor of the form that people used to express particular types of attitude. Occupational group also predicted the nature of and variability in attitudes toward the unemployed, with other factors constant. Personal experience was a good predictor of the form of attitude expressed. Those with more experience with unemployed people tended to use fewer generalizations. However, personal experience of unemployment or with the unemployed did not predict the nature of attitudes expressed.