Abstract
Researchers have called for public education concerning information about acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Public education is seen as more effective when the subject of the education is familiar rather than unfamiliar. The present authors report a serendipitous finding that strongly suggests that AIDS is at the forefront of people's minds. Eighty-one introductory psychology students were participating in a psycholinguistic study designed to gather immediate responses to category labels. AIDS was by far the dominant response to the category label “a disease.” Based upon a variety of evidence, the authors conclude that the general public has been made aware of AIDS to the point where education about the disease will be effective.