labelling and stigma Flashcards
label
a name that represents something
ex: down syndrome
labelling can lead to
stigma
stigma
a label in action
such as discrimination, underestimation
what makes a condition stigmatizing
a condition is first labelled and becomes stigmatizing when it dissociates the possessor from other people in any way or when it makes the possessor feel shame
examples of stigmatizing conditions
- HIV
- epilepsy
- down’s syndrome
HIV
associated with personal responsibility, infection, and promiscuity
epilepsy
stigmatizing due to its disturbing epileptic episodes and people’s lack of information/knowledge
down’s syndrome
stigmatizing due to its physical characteristics and developmental decay
give an example of how stigma can result in a self-fulfilling prophecy
if a person with dementia is labelled “slow” then others will behave towards him as so; the person might understand themselves as slow
stigma leads to
- low self-esteem
- low self-efficacy
- patients less likely to seek medical help
- patients less likely to adhere to therapy
importance of knowing about stigma
- helps doctors communicate better with patients
- doctors establish good rapport and improve adherence
- stigma leads to chronic stress which is associated with other health problems
example of how a clinician can directly stigmatize patients
refusing to treat a patient with HIV
example of how a clinician can indirectly stigmatize patients
to devalue to underestimate patient’s capability to understand
ways of reducing stigma
- educate patients how to deal with it
- inform the public about the nature, causes, and epidemiology of diseases
- train healthcare professionals to address stigmatizing behavior
2 types of deviance
- primary deviance
- secondary deviance
