Beliefs and attitudes underlying stigma
Numerous studies have shown that dangerousness is what most often is associated with mental illness. As many as 75% of the general public view people with mental illness as dangerous. Studies have indicated that perception of dangerousness varies by mental disorder, with alcohol and drug dependence as well as schizophrenia being seen as most dangerous to themselves and others, while people with depression were mostly seen as dangerous to themselves. This misperception of people with mental illness being dangerous and violent has however only a small basis in reality, as it has been shown in several large-scale studies examining this. In spite of these findings, the public still perceives that a strong link exists between mental illness and dangerousness, which continues to fuel avoidance, fear and unequal opportunities. Another belief held by nearly 50% of the general public is that schizophrenia is the same as split personality, which creates even more fear and a perception of these people as being unpredictable and scary. |
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Research has also been done to specifically find out what it is about mental illness that causes social rejection. Results have shown that several beliefs elicited social distance and rejection and were associated with stigma. These were beliefs about people with mental illness being dangerous, socially disruptive, less competent, hard to talk to, untreatable, being out of touch with reality, and to some extent being responsible for their own illness. What were found to be the “big three” dimensions of social rejection was personal responsibility, dangerousness and rarity.
These findings indicate that the general public has more negative attitudes toward people who they believe have caused their mental illness, those who have a rare illness and those who are thought to be dangerous. Studies have also been done to identify core public beliefs and attitudes that are underlying stigma, which showed to be consistent throughout different countries. People were often unwilling to see people with mental illness in their families, neighborhoods or in positions of authority or power. These opinions seem to include fundamental ideas about that people with mental illness cannot recover, manage their illness appropriately and live full and complete lives. For additional information on attitudes toward mental illness, please take a look at reports based on national surveys carried out by Time to Change organization to evaluate public attitudes in order to measure whether attitudes improved or worsened over time. Learn more... See references: Pescosolido, B.A., Medina, T. R., Martin, J. K., &Long, J.S. (2013), Parcesepe, A.M., & Cabassa, L., J. (2013) ,Feldman, D.B.,& Grandall, C. S. (2007). |