Stigma

Question 1

What is stigma?

Answer 1

Universal process leading individuals to negatively evaluate aspects of others that are different

Question 2

What are some theories that form the sociological basis of stigma?

Answer 2

Labelling theory
Primary deviance-societal reaction-secondary deviance
Medical labels = diagnoses, medicalisation of issues
Downward comparison theory

Question 3

What is the power dynamic involved in stigma?

Answer 3

Always inherent power differentials between those being stigmatised and those doing the stigmatising

Question 4

What are the component parts of stigma?

Answer 4

Cognitive = negative thinking leads to stereotypes
Attitudes = negative emotions lead to prejudice
Behaviours = negative actions cause discrimination

Question 5

Why do people have a stigma against mental health?

Answer 5

Mental health represents to people a loss of what they consider to be human qualities of rationality and free will

Question 6

What is some of the ignorance that surrounds mental illness?

Answer 6

55% public believe that “someone who can’t be held responsible for their action” applies to the mentally ill
63% public believe that fewer than 10% of people will suffer from mental illness = actual figure is 25%

Question 7

What is prejudice?

Answer 7

Emotional component to negative stereotypes formed about someone = believing that someone is different leads to a different emotional reaction to that person

Question 8

What is discrimination?

Answer 8

Behaviours associated with prior beliefs and emotional reaction to the stigmatised group

Question 9

What can discrimination lead to?

Answer 9

Less likely to employ, socialise with or date = leads to separation from normal society

Question 10

What are some sources of stigma?

Answer 10

Social media, tv and film, journalism, antipsychiatry groups, attitudes towards illness, medical professionals

Question 11

How does children’s tv and film contribute to stigma towards mental illness?

Answer 11

85% of Disney films contain references to mental illness
Vocabulary generally negative, casually disrespectful and stigmatising
Behavioural examples teach children to separate, alienate or verbally harass those with mental illness
Characters with mental illness are objects of amusement, fear or derision

Question 12

What feelings can stigma lead to?

Answer 12

Anger, depression, fear, isolation, anxiety, guilt, avoidance of help seeking, desperation

Question 13

What are some impacts of stigma on mental health patients?

Answer 13

93% experienced some sort of stigma
19% felt unable to tell their GP about mental distress
40% of Scots fear revealing a mental health problem at work would jeopardise their career
9% said their were victims of abuse at work

Question 14

What are some ways to change stigma?

Answer 14

Protests =promote awareness, discourage negative portrayal
Education, campaigns and legislation
Interpersonal contact = contact with mentally ill reduces stigma