Knowra Stigma of mental illness Stigma of mental illness Social devaluation, stereotyping, and discrimination directed at people because of actual or perceived mental illness. It can operate through public attitudes, self-stigma, and institutional practices.
Stereotype : A generalized belief about members of a group, often applied without regard to individual differences. Beliefs linking mental illness with danger or incompetence can underpin stigmatizing judgments.
Mental health services : Professional and community services that prevent, assess, or treat mental health conditions. Stigma can obstruct access to care and weaken the quality of treatment people receive.
Erving Goffman : A Canadian-American sociologist known for influential studies of social interaction and stigma. His 1963 book framed stigma as a relationship between social identity and discrediting attributes.
Contact hypothesis : The proposition that intergroup contact under suitable conditions can reduce prejudice. Direct, equal-status interaction can challenge stereotypes about mental illness.
Mental health stigma : Negative attitudes and discriminatory treatment associated with mental health conditions. This common phrase overlaps with stigma of mental illness but can encompass broader experiences of mental health care.
Prejudice : A preconceived attitude toward a person or group, often involving negative evaluation. Negative feelings toward people with mental illness translate stereotypes into social rejection.
Social exclusion : The process by which people are prevented from full participation in social, economic, or civic life. Avoidance and rejection can isolate people with mental illness from ordinary community life.
Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity : Erving Goffman's 1963 book analyzing how stigma shapes identity and social interaction. It established a foundational sociological account often applied to mental illness.
Mental health literacy : Knowledge and beliefs that help people recognize, manage, or prevent mental health conditions. Accurate information can correct misconceptions, though knowledge alone may not eliminate discrimination.
Public stigma : The negative stereotypes, prejudices, and discriminatory behaviors held by members of the public toward a group. It identifies stigma located in other people's attitudes rather than in institutions or self-perception.
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