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One in eleven people in the United Kingdom have a significant disfigurement to their face (Changing Faces, 2007, unpublished). Those with a facial disfigurement are often victims of prejudice and stigmatisation, there is however lack of understanding of why this occurs. This research aims to explore public views´ and perceptions of facial disfigurement. Semi-structured interviews were carried out on six participants. As a result of extensive Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, 4 super- ordinate themes emerged from the data, 1)different from normal, 2)social awkwardness,3) perceived negative impact on the lives of those with a disfigurement and 4) society and disfigurement. These themes will be discussed in association to previous findings in research, and possible future directions for research will be highlighted.

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My name is Sophie Tolmie and I am currently living in Glasgow, Scotland, where I was born. I graduated from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh with an honors degree in Psychology in 2009 and I am currently training to be a counsellor.

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