Educational Space of a Learner with Disability in the Context of Infrahumanization of “Outgroups”

Abstract

The study is aimed at presenting the educational space of a disabled learner within the category of infrahumanization – social categorizing into “ingroups” and “outgroups”. The presented issues comprise educational space, three functioning forms of education, the phenomenon of infrahumanization and the common group identity. Disabled learners’ functioning within a class is presented in: mainstream school (where the dominating group consists of learners without disabilities), integrated school (where categorization of learners is shaped in the way offering more chances to the disabled), and special school (a segregation-based form). Two dimensions of the discussed phenomenon of infrahumanization are indicated – heterogeneousness, which enhances attitudes of acceptance and understanding within a class group (micro-dimension) and its more serious social consequences (macro-dimension).