Browsing by Subject "Stigma (Social psychology)"
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Item Exploring potential components of prejudice toward certain stigmatized others(2001-08) Terry, Lisa Noelle; Manaster, Guy J.Item Heterosexism within educational institutions: coping efforts of lesbian, gay, and bisexual students in West Texas(Texas Tech University, 1998-12) Mahan, Virginia J.This investigation illuminates the lived experiences of selfidentified lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB/lesbigay) college students in West Texas, particularly with regard to heterosexism withineducational institutions. In addition, this work explores the strategies participants used to cope with the heterosexism they encountered in their daily interactions with others, as well as how these strategies were constructed, maintained, and internally revised over time. Accounts of participants' lived experiences indicate that from the elementary to the university levels, the Texas educational institutions in this investigation contributed, both actively and passively, to their many psychosocial stressors, as well as their marginalization. Some Texas educators were either unaware of or chose not to abide by the gay-affirmative philosophies of various professional organizations in education, failing both to provide equity with regard to sexual orientation and to establish a gayaffirmative environment devoid of physical and verbal harassment. For example, early in their school careers, a number of participants were punished and labeled as homosexual because they engaged in what educators and fellow classmates considered to be inappropriate gender behavior, particularly non-normative play. Having been labeled as homosexual, these participants were nonetheless unable to obtain judgment-free and accurate information regarding lesbigays from either parents or school personnel. By allowing epithets to be used for homosexuality while otherwise disallowing profanity and racism, school personnel not only tacitly condoned marginalization of lesbigays, but failed to furnish a gay-affirmative environment. Moreover, participants experienced a diminished sense of security and faced persistent danger to their physical and/or psychological safety. According to participants, only rarely did Texas educators intervene when, as frequently occurred, LGB students were targeted for verbal and physical harassment. In response to the aforementioned psychosocial stressors, participants reported a wide variety of coping efforts, both adaptive and maladaptive. Behavioral strategies targeting the problem situation far outnumbered emotion-focused coping. While many coping efforts were idiosyncratic, five or more participants reported assertiveness, counseling, cultural inversion/pride, direct action, social support, and use of the Internet as helpful. Moreover, ignoring, social withdrawal, and suicide attempts were each considered detrimental by four participants.Item The relationship between the public’s belief in the potential of recovery and level of mental illness stigma(2011-05) Barczyk, Amanda Nicole; Davis, King E.; Thompson, Sanna J.; von Sternberg, Kirk; Alexander, Laurie; Springer, David W.Mental health conditions are highly prevalent in the U.S. Approximately two thirds of individuals who have a diagnosable mental health condition do not seek treatment; stigma is a major contributing factor. Stigma can lead to a fear of pursuing one’s goals, loss of self-esteem and a hesitancy to engage in society. This dissertation was a secondary data analysis of 1,437 adults who participated in the 2006 General Social Survey topical modules utilizing vignettes to examine mental health issues. Multiple-group structural equation modeling examined the relationship between respondents’ level of prejudicial attitudes and social distance (i.e., stigma) toward individuals who have a mental health condition and their belief in the potential of recovery. This relationship was examined for mental health conditions in general and across four groups (i.e., alcohol dependence, major depression, schizophrenia and troubled person). The relationship was further explored by testing if previous contact with an individual who has received treatment was a mediator. Findings indicate that the belief in recovery leads to lower levels of social distance. This finding was true for each group. In addition, prejudicial attitudes were found to be a predictor of one’s level of social distance for each group. Parameter invariance was found for all variables except income. In the group of respondents given the vignette depicting a troubled person, those with a lower income were more likely to have lower levels of prejudicial attitudes. In the group of respondents given the vignette depicting an individual with alcohol dependence, those with lower income were more likely to have higher levels of prejudicial attitudes and social distance. While the variable previous contact was not a mediator, it was found that males, respondents of minority background and those with less education were less likely to have had previous contact with an individual who has received mental health treatment. Results from this dissertation indicate a need to place emphasis on the probability of recovering from a mental health condition when developing stigma reducing strategies. Results also highlight the need to focus on the recovery and empowerment of individuals with mental health conditions in education, practice and policy.