Communication & Stigma

Question 1

What is Goffman’s definition of Stigma?

Answer 1

Stigma as a way to mark tainted and discounted groups

Question 2

What is Stafford and Scott’s definition of stigma?

Answer 2

Stigma as norm violations.

Question 3

What is Phelan, Link, and Dovidio’s definition of stigma?

Answer 3

Stigma as prejudice

Question 4

What is Link and Phelan’s definition of stigma?

Answer 4

Stigma as power to exploit the stigmatized groups; considered stigma as a label rather than an attribute

Question 5

What is Fien and Spencer’s definition of stigma?

Answer 5

Downward social comparison to make oneself look good

Question 6

What is courtesy stigma?

Answer 6

Goffman; Stigma by association; Stigma spread out from the stigmatized groups to others related to it.
People who suffer from this kind of stigma:
1. cannot be accepted by the “normal people” and their courtesy group
2. carry the burdens and barrier that DO NOT belong to them.

Question 7

In Goffman’s version of stigma, how is the person treated?

Answer 7

Treated as not human or inferior and dangerous. (Stigma experience as a mental reductionist process, stranger, and normative expectations)

Question 8

Discredited Stigma

Answer 8

Goffman; Stigma that is observable and recognized (ex: bodily abominations)

Question 9

Discreditable Stigma

Answer 9

Goffman; Stigma that can be hidden on the surface (ex: blemishes of character

Question 10

What are the different ways stigmatized people manage their stigmatized identities depending on whether such stigma is discredited or discreditable?

Answer 10

1. Avoidance
2. Selective Disclosure
3. Reduce Offensiveness
4. Downward Comparison
5. Only interacting with other stigmatized groups

Question 11

What are the three types of stigma under Goffman?

Answer 11

1. Abominations of the body
2. Blemishes of individual character
3. Tribal stigma of race, nation, and religion (ex: anti-semitism)

Question 12

Stigma ideology under Goffman

Answer 12

Uncertainty arises during interactions between stigmatized people and non-stigmatized people.

“A stigma theory, and ideology to explain his inferiority and account for the danger he represents, sometimes rationalizing an animosity based on other differences, such as those of social class.”

Question 13

Horizontal Perspective

Answer 13

List different categories of stigma; a static approach to stigma

Question 14

Vertical Perspective

Answer 14

How stigma evolve and develop; a dynamic process to look at stigma

Question 15

What are the four components in the systematic approach to stigma under Link & Phelan?

Answer 15

1. Labeling and distinguishing differences (mentally normal vs. mentally disordered; native english speakers vs. non-native english speakers)
2. On associative human differences with negative attributes (devalued stereotypes); (Inferior, dangerous, corrupted, tainted, lazy)
3. Separate “us” from “them” (E.g., They are lazy… they should be hardworking)
4. Status loss and Discrimination; Discrimination could exist at both the individual level or structural level… or even via the stigmatized group themselves

Question 16

What are the four levels of stigmatization?

Answer 16

Link & Phelan
1. Institutional (structural or societal) level of stigmatization

2. Intercultural-intergroup level of stigmatization (example)
3. Interpersonal level of stigmatization
4. Self level of stigmatization

Question 17

Example of Institutional stigmatization

Answer 17

Lowering funding for mental health research due to stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against people with mental illness.

Question 18

Example of Intercultural-intergroup Stigmatization

Answer 18

In a diverse workplace setting, employees from one cultural background might be unfairly stigmatized or discriminated against by individuals from another cultural background. This could manifest in various forms, such as exclusion from social activities, biased treatment in decision-making processes, or derogatory stereotypes being perpetuated about the targeted group.

Question 19

Example of Interpersonal level of stigmatization

Answer 19

someone who identifies as LGBTQ+ may experience interpersonal stigmatization if their friends or family members make derogatory remarks, express disapproval, or treat them differently because of their sexual orientation. This could manifest in subtle forms, such as jokes or comments that invalidate their identity, or more overt forms, such as exclusion from gatherings or social events.

Question 20

Example of self level of stigmatization

Answer 20

feelings of shame or feeling inferior due to your illness

Question 21

How are stigma and power related?

Answer 21

Stigma is related to power and stigmatizers cannot stigmatize others without power.
This power could be operated in an obvious manner, but it may also function in less obvious ways

Question 22

Three types of power

Answer 22

Link & Phelan
1. Political power (using armies or police force; creating laws that legitimize stigma)
2. Cultural or symbolic power (stereotypes such as “girls are bad at sports”)
3. Economic Power (using money to create barriers for the disadvantaged groups).

Question 23

Motivations of Stigmatizers

Answer 23

Link & Phelan
1. Create social norms to control others (keeping us in)
2. Exploit other groups (keeping them down)
3. Avoid danger (keeping them out)

Question 24

Examples of motivations of stigmatizers (keeping us in, keeping them down, keeping them out)

Answer 24

Manager: Why is what you’re wearing not on par with our dress code?
Employee A: This is just what I felt like wearing today
Manager: You cannot do this, you now have to wear the neon discipline outfit as punishment
Employee A: No it’s so ugly and bright!
Manager: Good, let this be a sign to all the other employees that you cannot dress like that
Employee B: I would hate to have to wear that, it’s so embarrassing! I will never come to work not dressed right like her
Employee A: I quit!
Manager: Good, we don’t need people who dress like you! And sign this NDA on your way out, we don’t need to hear from people like you ever again.
Employee B: I won’t speak to her again, I’m glad she’s gone. Who shows up to work dressed like that!

Question 25

What are other implication for stigma from Link & Phelan?

Answer 25

1. Stigma as values and norms
2. Stigma makes certain disadvantages people accept their lower and “rightful” place
3. Such stigma power is hidden and misrecognized (both stigmatizers and the stigmatized groups may not be aware of that)

Question 26

Cultivation Analysis

Answer 26

Mass media influence our worldview

Question 27

Social Cognition Perspective

Answer 27

We learn from role models in mass media and behave like them

Question 28

Communication & Stigma

Answer 28

A process perspective; Includes:
1. Stigmatizer: (The sender who sends stigma messages)

2. Stigma messages (The messages stigmatize a certain individual and the group associated with this individual).
3. The stigmatized (The receiver who receives stigma messages or those who are targets of such messages)

Question 29

What were the religious and medical implications of stigma during the Christian time?

Answer 29

1. Bodily sign of holy grace
2. Bodily sign of physical disorder
3. Glorified vs. polluted

Question 30

Expectancy Violation Theory (Burgoon)

Answer 30

Positive violation….Positive evaluation
Negative Violation… Negative evaluation

Question 31

Stigma and being a stranger

Answer 31

1. Unfamiliarity results in stigmatization

Question 32

Stigma as a matter of degree

Answer 32

• Labeling could be salient or not salient at all.
• The relation between labeling and negative stereotypes might be strong or weak (or one label might be related to multiple stereotypes with different valences).
• Separation could be either weak or strong depending on contexts.
• Status Loss-Discrimination may vary.

Question 33

Origins of stigma

Answer 33

Groups with or without power label and stereotype each other

Question 34

The passive vs. active stigmatized groups

Answer 34

Passivity (e.g., being helpless) makes more negative stereotypes about the stigmatized groups
Resistance from the stigmatized groups… while gets limited by power restrictions

Question 35

Outcomes of Stigma: Not in my backyard phenomenon (NIMBY)

Answer 35

Describes a phenomenon in which residents of a neighborhood designate a new development (e.g., shelter, affordable housing, group home) or change in occupancy of an existing development as inappropriate or unwanted for their local area

Question 36

Common arguments of NIMBY phenomenon

Answer 36

There will be increases in crime, litter, thefts, violence, and the property taxes will decrease. The benefits for the residents of the development are often ignored.