Influence of Perspective-taking and Instruction Techniques on The Prejudice Towards Pregnant Teenagers of Women from Caracas

Abstract

Despite the fact that prejudice towards pregnant teenagers persists at a social level, there are few investigations that evaluate the effectiveness of strategies designed to reduce it. This study aimed to determine the influence of Perspective Taking and Instruction techniques on prejudice by women from the community of Petare (Caracas) towards pregnant adolescents. The sample consisted of 30 participants between 18 and 50 years old. The design used was quasi-experimental, of three related groups of 10 people (2 experimental and 1 control) with post-test measurement only. The independent variable was manipulated through modalities: experimental group 1 was exposed to Perspective Taking (imagining themselves in the place of another in order to generate empathy) while experimental group 2 was exposed to an Instruction (a presentation about the prejudiced group) and finally the control group was exposed to a theme-neutral reading (importance of artistic expression in childhood). After the intervention, prejudice understood as an attitude that is expressed through a negative evaluation of the members of a social group, was measured using three instruments: Positivity Toward Teen Mothers Scale (PTTM), Semantic Differential Scales (SDS) and the Feeling Thermometer (FT). These results were processed using the Friedman test and Tukey's post hoc test, observing significant differences between the control group and the experimental group 2 exposed to the Instruction. Verifying the effectiveness of these interventions contributes to the creation of awareness programs for the entire community, helping to reduce the prejudice and exclusion that these young women experience.