The differing beliefs and perceptions of the mentally ill between the sexes
             This research highlights the favored distance in society between the mentally ill and the able minded. It considers youth's views on mental illness; weather it is psychosocial or medical, it also focuses on the differing opinions of males and females. A vignette style questionnaire was used to collect data, illustrating correlations between the level of perceived mental illness and the larger gap society places between themselves and the mentally ill and a females show a more tolerant acceptance of the mentally ill. It has been suggested however that the preferred distance placed between the mentally ill and society would be considerably decreased if society were more or better educated about the mentally ill.
             This research attempts to pin point society's attitudes towards the mentally ill, in response to the growing interest in the public's perception based on their awareness of mental illness. The able minded public tends to view the mentally ill as abnormal; they avoid interaction and desire to have a "safe" distance placed between themselves and the mentally ill. Within the inter-actional perspective, it is clear that society has certain attitudes towards those they consider to be mentally ill and pertain their own classifications as to what is and isn't mental illness (Arkar & Eker, 1994).
             Recent studies have focused on the differing opinions of males and females towards mental illness. It has become evident that females are more accepting of the mentally ill.
             The level of desired social distance between society and the mentally ill is explained by the fact that medical disorders are very often considered to be psychiatric. The variables most often used in past studies seem to be age and education. The less educated and older the subject's have a more negative attitude (Ojanen, 1992). This research was targeted a...