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A Deaf man is driving along and stops to pick up a hitchhiker, who cannot understand his signs but welcomes the ride. The term hitchhiker is used to represent the types of errors that can be made when hearing people attempt to understand deaf individuals solely from a hearing viewpoint. This chapter highlights issues like deaf humor works toward an emic-etic understanding of how deaf individuals see themselves and the place they hold in society. Psychology has studied deaf individuals often only as a deviation from what were considered normal participants. Research would need to clarify similarities and differences between deaf and hearing participants, working to resolve any derogatory views. In this manner, a psychology of deafness will enlighten those frozen with a hearing framework and reallocate resources in a more equitable way. Finally, it is this hitchhiker's belief that the field of psychology of deafness will increase knowledge in all of the subfields included under the umbrella of psychology.
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