The objective of this thesis is to show that stereotypic beliefs about a social group can automatically influence the guidance of behavior by demonstrating that priming the disability stereotype alters subsequent motor performance in a way that is consistent with the specific content of the considered stereotype (poor performance). Thus, this thesis emphasizes that priming able-bodied persons with the disability stereotype leads to such an assimilation effect, an effect which appears to be particularly pronounced with persons who are familiar with the members of the primed social group. In addition, the presented thesis shows that disabled people are themselves unfavorably influenced by the negative stereotype associated with their membership group, especially in situations where these individuals could feel like being under examination.
