Stigma Flashcards
Definition of stigma?
Mark of disgrace associated w a particular circumstance, quality or person
Negative attitudes or discrimination towards an indiv based on distinguished characteristics ( culture, race, age and gender)
What is the process of stigma - Link & Phelan?
Stigma = natural process
When does stigma occur?
In situation in which power = excercised
What are the 4 processes involved in stigma
- Labelling difference to categorising
- Sterotyping
- Seperation of “them” and “us:
- Status loss and Discrimination
Who may stigma impact?
- May impact across several levels of society
e.g - The individual
- Their family & friends
- Organisations
What have the Mental Health Foundation (2014) found?
Individuals diagnosed w a mental ilnness say stigma impacts negatively in almost all areas of their lives
- Employment
- Accommadation
- Relationships
- Self esteem
- Insuarance
Impact of stigma on self esteem?
Stigma related to self esteem including feelings of lovability & how capable an individual deels and how influential or important an indiviudal feels (LYSAKER ET AL, 2008)
Internalised stigma = ?
when individuals begin to believe the stigmatising views which = common in society
Which groups experience stigma?
Any characteristic, visible or not which = marks a person as different from others around them can end up being a stigmatised characteristic
What leads a society to choose what to stigmatise?
Political, historical or religious contects e.g skin colour but not eye colour, mental health more than physical health, homosexual but not hetrosexual
Attiudes learnt very young ( social experiment Jane Elliot ‘blue eyes’)
Impact of stigma on physical health and morality? - Yung et al
- In HONK KONG - ppl w schiz die 8-9 years earlier than those in the gen pop (Yung et al )
Impact of stigma on physical health and morality? - Colton & Mandersheif, 2006
- America - ppl w severe mental illnessess dei between 14 - 32 years earlier than general pop
How do we address stigma?
- Protest
- Education
- Contact
What is protest in terms of addressing stigma?
Seeks to supress stigmatising attitudes
What is education in terms of addressing stigma?
Replaces myths about mental illness
What is contact in terms of addressing stigma?
Challenges attitudes about mental illness through direct interactions w ppl who have experienced living w mental illness
Is protesing is always good?
it may have +ve outcomes but not always straight forward
What was Corrigan et al’s (2001) Aim?
To compare contact, education & protest and no intervention in improving stigma
Who were Corrigan et al’s (2001) ppts?
152 Community college students
What was Corrigan et al’s (2001) Results?
Contact intervention = most successful
Education = some success
Protest = no improvemnet in attitudes
Why did Corrigan et al get his results (psychological response)
People = less likely to comply w a request if they perceive it as limiting their freedom or choices
Why did Corrigan et al get his results (Rebound Effect)
Where ppl ordered to supress -ve sterotypes become more sensitised to them: the more one try to not think ab something the more you end up thinking ab it)
What was Allport (1954) theory of inter group contact?
- He said interaction between diff groups = reduces conflict, prejudiec & discrimination between groups
What did Deutsch & Collins (1951) find?
Desegregation in the USA - white indivs who were living in desecrated public housing schemes reported lower levels of stigma towards their black neighbours
What did Pettigre (1998) find?
Optimal conditions for contact interventions are when there = equality, common foals, co-operation not COMPETITION & approval of authority
Ahuja et al (2017) research was evidence for what?
Contact
What was Ahujas’ aim?
To improve attitudes towrads those w mental illnesses among college students
Who were Ahuja’s ppts?
50 young peopl eattending college
What was Ahuja’s Method?
A 2 hour intervention consisting of education and contact combined as both stratgies = proven to be successful for improving attitudes
Measures of syigma = collected before & immediately after the inertvention as well as a week later
What were Ahuja’s results?
Attitudes improved significantly after the intervention & remained improved at the one week follow up
