Social stigma

Social devaluation associated with an attributed characteristic in a particular context. Social stigma concerns relationships and opportunities as well as individual attitudes; a diagnostic label does not have the same consequences in every setting.

Institutional arrangements and practices that disadvantage a socially marked group. Changing personal attitudes does not alone establish that access to housing, work or appropriate care has become equitable.

Desired or intended separation from a person or group in specified relationships. A social-distance questionnaire measures a stated orientation, not necessarily actual behavior or explicit denial of humanity.

Denial or reduction of qualities or standing ordinarily accorded to persons, such as agency, emotional depth or equal moral consideration. Dehumanization is related to prejudice and discrimination but is not established by every measure of social distance.

Representing a person primarily as an impersonal mechanism lacking a recognized subjective perspective or agency. A scientific biological explanation does not logically require mechanistic dehumanization; how an explanation is framed and used is an empirical question.

Devaluation or exclusion associated with a perceived mental disorder. Public attitudes, experienced discrimination, anticipated discrimination, self-stigma and structural stigma are distinguishable and require different measures.

Treating genetic influence as a fixed, defining and categorically separating essence. Genetic contribution does not logically imply immutability, uniformity or inability to participate in ordinary social life.

Allowing an existing diagnosis to substitute for adequate consideration of a separate difficulty. In mental-health settings, a psychiatric label can be inappropriately used to explain a physical complaint without examining relevant alternatives.

Reported or observed unfair treatment associated with an attributed characteristic. Self-report, direct observation and institutional records provide different evidence and have distinct sampling limitations.

An expectation of unfair treatment linked to an attributed characteristic. It can influence participation or concealment before a particular rejection occurs; absence of reported prior discrimination does not prove that the expectation is unfounded.

Applying a socially devaluing stereotype to oneself, with consequences for self-understanding or expectations. Anticipating realistic discrimination is different from accepting the stereotype as true.