L12 - Stigma and prejudice - WIP Flashcards
What is Goffman’s definition of stigma (1963)?
- An attribute that is ‘deeply discrediting’
- Reduces the bearer “from a whole and usual person to a tainted, discounted one”
What are some examples of stigmatised health conditions?
- Visible differences
- Mental health
- Infectious diseases
- Feared conditions (e.g. cancer)
What are the 3 types of stigma identified by Goffman?
- Abominations of the body
- Physical disfigurement/ dev from social norm - Blemishes of character
- A known record of alcoholism, homosexuality, unemployment seen as a chara flaw - Tribal identities
- -ve exal of ppl due to assoc with particular group, most often via family (e.g. class, ethnicity or religion)
What are the some of the possible impacts of physical stigma?
- Heightened social anxiety
- Embarrassment
- Depression
- Low self esteem
- Social withdrawal
- Isolation
Give examples of the ‘blemishes of character’ stigma type
- Drug addiction
- Time spent in prison
- Prostitution
- Mental illness
- Learning impairment
- ‘Alt’ sexualities
What is courtesy stigma?
- Stigma ‘rubs off’ on people close to stigmatised person
- Identified by Goffman
What does it mean for a person to become ‘discredited’?
- When they have a sign of a stigmatising condition which cannot be disguised
- They are forced to deal with their stigma in almost all interactions
What does it mean for a person to become ‘discreditable’?
- When it is possible for them to conceal a sign of a stigmatising condition
What are the possible effects when a person is discredited?
- Enacted stigma - ppl stare/ avoid/ express disgust
- Effects on employment and earning potential
- Isolation - ppl may avoid contact in anticipation of a negative response
What are the possible effects when a person is discreditable?
- Concealment strategies which may not work
- Passing as ‘normal’
- Evaluating whether or not to reveal their condition
Which conditions allow for people to move between discredited and discreditable?
With relapsing- remitting conditions
What is a ‘spoiled identity’?
Implies that an individual’s social identity is dominated by the stigmatised illness/ attribute
How may people respond to a ‘spoiled identity’?
- Passing as normal - concealing signs of illness/ hiding meds
- Info control - deciding who to trust
- Avoiding all social contact - in extreme cases
- Trying to avoid blame - focusing on the role of genetics, stressing responsible behaviour
- Refusing to be ashamed - seeking group solidarity and pride
How does stigma differ from stereotype?
- Stereotype explains social expectation; stigmatising attribute may be unexpected
- Stereotype focuses on group identity (e.g. in group cohesion, stereotyped out group)
- Stigma focuses on the stigmatised individual and the effect on them
How does stigma differ from prejudice?
- Prejudice on social cog; stigma social interaction
- Prejudice on group or individual; stigma individual
- Stigma visible or known difference, prejudice about attitudes and -ve emotions
- Stigma and prejudice both negative
