The different faces of mental illness stigma

Systematic variation of stereotypes, prejudice and discrimination by type of illness

Bibliographic Data

ID21392224
AuthorsAnke Görzig (0000-0002-7623-0836, Psychology and Counselling, School of Human Sciences Old Royal Naval College, University of Greenwich London UK, corresponding author), Lauren Nicole Ryan (School of Human and Social Sciences University of West London Brentford UK), Lauren N DeCaporale Ryan (University of West London)
Year2022
Volume63
Issue5
Pages545-554
Publication date2022-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueScandinavian Journal of Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0036-5564 • E-ISSN: 1467-9450
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/sjop.12833
PMID35634651
OpenAlexW4281617929
LanguageEN
Citations received8
References cited52

Mental illness (MI) stigma has been characterized as multi‐dimensional including problems of knowledge (stereotypes), attitudes (prejudice) and behavior (discrimination); however, most research practice is predominantly applying unidimensional behavioral measures such as social distance scales. Moreover, specific types of MIs and different forms of discriminatory behaviors are not being differentiated. The Stereotype Content Model predicts that group stereotypes (warmth, competence) are linked with different forms of discriminatory behaviors (harm or facilitation) via emotional prejudices (pity, envy, contempt). The present study sought to establish how differential stereotypic perceptions of MI subgroups elicit distinct forms of behavioral discrimination via emotional prejudices. A community sample ( N = 60) was randomly assigned to one of three conditions representing MIs across the warmth‐competence stereotype space. Patterns of self‐completed measures for stereotypes, emotions and behaviors differed significantly between conditions. The association between stereotypes and behaviors were largely mediated by emotions. Systematic patterns of stereotypic perceptions, emotional prejudices and behavioral discrimination are present for individuals with different types of MIs. Hence, generic measures of discrimination, such as social distance scales, may be misleading. Intervention strategies should consider the systematic variation of the factors involved in stigma, differentiating by type of MI and discriminatory behaviors

Contempt · Developmental psychology · Disease · Mental health · Mental illness · Perception · Prejudice (legal term) · Social distance · Social perception · Stereotype (UML) · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Social Psychology