Lecture 5

Question 1

Stigma

Answer 1

social rejection resulting from negatively perceived characteristics

Question 2

4 qualities of stigma

Answer 2

1. Individual differences are recognized
2. These differences are perceived by society as negative
3. The stigmatized group is seen as the outgroup
4. The end result is loss of opportunity, power or status

Question 3

Stereotype (cognitive)

Answer 3

overgeneralization about a person based on group membership.

Question 4

Prejudice (affective)

Answer 4

agreement with the stereotype and negative emotions toward a person.

Question 5

Discrimination (behavioral)

Answer 5

unfair acts toward groups or group members.

Question 6

Public stigma

Answer 6

what society beliefs about people with mental illness.

Question 7

Self-stigma

Answer 7

when public stigma becomes internalized (which might lead to low self-esteem, depression, or lack of motivation).

Question 8

Structural stigma

Answer 8

when stigmatizing beliefs and attitudes lead to unfair social institutions and policies for the stigmatized
group.

Question 9

Stigma of mental illness

Answer 9

Incompetence, dangerousness and responsibility are among the most commonly endorsed stereotypes applied to people with mental illness.

Question 10

Stigma of borderline PD

Answer 10

Mood instability –> annoying
extreme sensitivity to abandonment –> undeserving
impulsivity –> frequent contact with law enforcement
self-multmilating behaviours –> frustrated police
difficulty controlling anger –> intentionally troublesome

Question 11

Stigma of Obsessive-compulsive PD

Answer 11

Perfectionism, over-emphasis on order, interpersonal control –> attitudes more favourable, well-understood by general public

Question 12

Stigma of narcissistic PD

Answer 12

lack of empathy –> fragile
exhibit a high need for admiration –> lacking self-esteem
over-developed sense of self-importance –> problematic social relationships
–> potential advantage in business context

Question 13

Structural stigma consequences

Answer 13

• Can impact availability of services, quality of services, insurance coverage, and research on PDs.
• Stigma influences diagnosis and assessment, specifically for BPD.
• People with BPD are frequently misdiagnosed and may receive inappropriate treatments such as overuse of medications rather
than psychotherapy.

Question 14

Anti-stigma interventions for PDs

Answer 14

• education
• involving members of the stigmatised group in personal contact with others
  ! anti-stigma interventions on neurobiological differences aren’t specifically effective in reducing stigma.

Question 15

Associative stigma

Answer 15

a form of social disapproval because of its direct connection with a stigmatized individual.
- In children and adolescents bidirectional: parents are directly blamed for the mental disturbance of their children, and the children can be seen as part of a mentally disturbed family

Question 16

subgroups vulnerable to higher stigma

Answer 16

young women, those dependent on others for self-worth validation, those with
previous experiences with social devaluation, and those with limited sources of identification
–> Adolescents with fragile identities and self-esteem might be especially prone to feeling stigmatized by other

Question 17

Study by Catthoor - adolescent with psychiatric stigma

Answer 17

1. Treatment-seeking individuals with severe mental health problems experience a higher burden of stigma.
2. Treatment-seeking adolescents with PDs experience more stigma than treatment-seeking adolescents with other severe
   and treatment refractory psychiatric Axis I disorder.
3. BPD is the strongest predictor of experiences of stigma, when controlled for other types of personality pathology.
4. More severely personality disordered adolescents – as measured by the number of PD traits – tend to experience the
   highest level of stigma.

Question 18

stigma of PD treatment

Answer 18

• “Better not to make a diagnosis of PD in young people, because it’s a severe diagnosis and treatment is difficult so better not make
  this diagnosis too early.”
• “treatment of PD is very difficult or not possible”.
• Self-mutilation is thought to be a cry for attention and help instead of a symptom of a severe diagnosis.

Question 19

BPD stress

Answer 19

Basic level of stress of people with BPD is much higher and stress increases more
with events: crosses threshold more easily (not able to think clearly anymore,
loses control over emotions –> self-mutilation, panic attacks, drinking).