Goffman 's Theory Of Social Stigma Essay

While stigma may not necessarily be a cause of a person’s mental disorder, it can certainly contribute to the complication and perpetuation of their illness. The effect of stigma goes well beyond just the patient and provides a commentary on society’s overall level of intolerance of those who are considered different from the majority. By recognizing the level of stigma that exists, perhaps we can alter that behavior and gravitate towards a more productive attitude towards mental illness.

Stigma surrounds mental illness even in contemporary society. Research has aimed to reduce this. World Health Organisation (WHO; 2012) have stated that such stigma is a “hidden human rights emergency”.

The majority of people that have a severe mental illness are object to challenges in double measure. From one point of view, they wrestle with the symptoms and disablement that result from the illness. From another point, they are tested by the stereotypes and preconceived ideas that stem from the misunderstandings about mental illness. As a culmination of both, people with a mental illness are stripped of the chances that define a quality life such as a good job, safe housing, adequate health care, and a connection with a varied group of people. Although research has gone a long way to understand the affect of the disease, it only recently has begun to explain the stigma of mental illness (Corrigan). The lives of people who are living with a mental illness are many times drastically adjusted by the symptoms of the illness and everyone’s response to them. While symptoms can normally be diminished by a number of actions, the intrinsic stigma and prejudice that comes with mental illness may continue on for a lifetime and can manifest themselves in a number of understated and non-understated ways. Normally, when one thinks of a stigma, they think of disgrace that is associated with a particular event, circumstance, or occasion. People with a mental illness are most often branded as an effect of their behavior, appearance, therapy, their economic status, and also the negative depictions in the media of the mental illnesses. People with a mental illness often have a “stereotype

Mental health stigma is a pervasive problem in the United States and in the world. In fact, the stigma surrounding mental health and mental illness can lead to a number of negative health outcomes for those who fall victim to it. For the purposes of this paper, the terms “mental health stigma” and “mental illness stigma” will be used interchangeably. Studies providing a more global view of the mental health stigma in the United States are few and far between, meaning that more research is necessary to expand knowledge surrounding the stigma. In addition, studies examining the effect of the mental health stigma in restricted demographics are also limited, indicating that more research is again indispensable in order to explore demographic differences

"Dehumanization, although a concrete historical fact, is not a given destiny but the result and unjust order that engenders violence in the oppressors, which in turn dehumanizes the oppressed" (Freire). This quote by Paulo Freire encompasses the destructive reality of dehumanization, which can be observed throughout the history of the world. This concept of removing another's humanity and dignity has left scars on the hearts of minorities who were considered to be unworthy of basic human rights. While the sinfulness of creation has lead to many aspects of moral decay, dehumanization could be considered to be the pinnacle of its depravity. Ultimately, this has lead to violence, war, and even genocide. Overall, this term can be defined by the way in which it labels people who are different, devalues human life, and destroys the humanity of those who institute it.

We first need to ask ourselves what stigma actually is. The government of Western Australia Mental Health Commission defines stigma as, “… a mark of disgrace that

In the beginning of chapter two Goffman describes how there is inconsistency between virtual identity and social identity between individuals, and how those individuals are shamed. Throughout chapter two of this book, Goffman has eight different subtopics that label and explains information control and personal identity. Under Social Information, Goffman discusses the importance of how different symbols mean different things. For example in the book a wedding ring typically means one is married, this symbol can show prestige or even honor in society. Goffman describes how status symbol is more so prestige symbol because it draws more attention to

Stigma has been said to be “a feeling of being negatively differentiated owing to a particular condition, group membership or state in life”(Arboleda-Florez & Stuart, 2012, p. 458). There are typically two types of mental illness stigma that are discussed. Public stigma, also known as societal stigma, is the stigma associated with the prejudicial attitudes the public holds towards those people who suffer from mental illness (Arboleda-Florez & Stuart, 2012; Corrigan, Markowitz, Watson, Rowan & Kubiak, 2003). Self-stigma, also known as internalized stigma, is the loss of self-esteem, withdrawal, and personal shame that some with mental illness will experience. Self-stigma is usually developed when those who suffer from mental illness associate the negative stereotypes the public holds with themselves (Chronister, Chou, & Lieo, 2013; Corrigan et al., 2003).

This paper will be a critique of Erving Goffman’s theory of Stigma. Goffman provides a very powerful analysis of motivation in everyday social interactions. He implements a strong emphasis on the idealized forms of behavior and mannerisms of the pressures on individuals to conform to the given societal expectations. (what does Goffman stigma tell us?) This paper will further offer an exploration of Goffman 's ideas and will identify both strengths and weaknesses within Goffman 's theory of stigma. To begin, this paper will offer a summary of the theory. Next, a critique examining stigma and comparing it to many related processes. To continue, I will be discussing the lack of attention Goffman gives to the broader, social- structural concerns that lead to stigmatization. To conclude, this paper will recognize the great work his theory has provided for understanding deviancy.

Goffman felt that there was already good work done on the topic of stigma. However, he wanted to discuss the previous works and his own ideas regarding stigma. Writing Stigma Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity provided him a place to discuss his ideas regarding prior work on stigma, and to give his spin on it.

A Critical Review of Erving Goffman’s Stigma In his preface Goffman states his intentions to use ‘popular work’ on stigma as a basis for his own review and expansion within his preoccupation of ‘social information,’ the information an individual directly conveys about himself. The book opens with a letter to a “lonelyhearts” column from a girl born without a nose which concludes ‘Ought I commit suicide?’ This sets the tone for a book which aims to be a comprehensive and illuminating excursion into the situation of persons who are unable to conform to standards that society calls “normal.”

Goffman looks at variety of strategies when it comes to stigmatized individuals, especially ones that deal with rejection from others. Stigma: Notes on the Management of a Spoiled Identity was published in 1963 and in the first chapter the book, Goffman determines the three types of stigma; stigma of character traits, physical stigma, and stigma of group identity. Stigma of character traits are “blemishes of individual character perceived as weak will, domineering, or unnatural passions, treacherous and rigid beliefs, and dishonesty, these being inferred from a known record of, for example, mental disorder, imprisonment, addiction, alcoholism, homosexuality, unemployment, suicidal attempts, and radical political behavior” (Goffman, 1963). Physical stigma is the deformities of the body, whereas the stigma of group identity is a stigma that derives from a particular race, nation and/or religion. These three types of stigma have one thing in common, their sociological features: “an individual who might have been received in normal social

Mental health and its stigma are an important issue plaguing today’s society. Many do not understand or acknowledge the severity of mental illness. The stigma against mental

There are many stigmas, or misconceptions and misperceptions in our society which need to be shattered. I believe that one of the worse possible effects of stigma is that it causes those affected by psychological disorders, or mental illness, to crawl more deeply into themselves because it provokes a sense of shame. Stigma thrusts those suffering with mental illness into a sense of isolation, social exclusion, and discrimination. “Stigma can lead to discrimination … It may be obvious or direct … Or it may be unintentional or subtle…” (Staff). Stigma is often as big as the illness itself and I confess to having been a perpetuator of this dreaded thing, although not consciously aware and without the intent of furthering the harm of someone.

Individuals with serious mental illness are doubly affected by their disease; not only do they experience the often debilitating symptoms of their condition, but they must also endure mundane mental health stigmas and prejudices. Stigmatized attitudes are perceived to be one of the greatest impediments to living a complete and fulfilling life. Stigma has been defined as a combination of three related problems: ignorance, prejudice and discrimination (Rose, Thornicroft, Pinfold, & Kassam, 2007). Ignorance implies a lack of knowledge, prejudice entails negative attitudes, and discrimination involves exclusionary actions against people deemed to be different. Two forms of stigma are commonly distinguished in literature. Public stigma describes the attitudes of society towards people with mental illness, while self-stigma results from the internalization of prejudice by people who suffer from mental health conditions (Corrigan, Powell, & Rüsch, 2012). The World Health Organization announced that stigma was the most crucial obstacle to overcome for a community to functioning effectively and efficiently (Ontario Hospital Association, 2013).