Essay on UTF 8 B TWVudGFsIFN0aWdtYSBSZXZpc2VkIDIwMTQucHB0eA

Submitted By jesenia1006
Words: 438
Pages: 2

MENTAL
STIGMA

WHO IS
“CRAZY”/“NORMAL”?


How would you distinguish a “crazy” person from a “normal” person?
Come up with 5 things that contribute to whether or not some someone is labeled/ seen as “crazy” or “normal”.

FROM INSANE:
ETIOLOGY & CONTEXT


Etiology (Cause) of behaviors
Are

behaviors’ origins/stimuli known? E.g., Talking on bench w/ no one present  E.g., Screaming & running around
 E.g., Wearing heavy coat in summer 



Context of behaviors
How

behavior fits within context



STIGMA
What is mental illness?
Is

perceivd impairmt in everyday life a
Necessary condition? – Yes
 Sufficient condition? – No, also need… 

Circumstantial
Labelers

contingencies

- Espec likely if collusion betw

family & authorities (police, clergy, MDs, soc workers, teachers)










AFFECTING MENTAL
ILLNESS LABEL
Demographics- Social class, race, etc.
Context & status, power of individual
 Workplace

-E.g., tyrannical boss
 Family setting – E.g., abusive parent – tolerated until…? Visibility of behaviors
 Who’s

monitored by State agents (e.g., social workers)? Political/economic/ bureaucratic context
 Polit:

Reprisals against dissidents/ whistleblowers
 Econ: Who profits from liberal definitn of mental illness? 



LABELING BY SOCIAL
CLASS

Wealthy families
Concordance

betw fam & offic’l

norms/labels
Inform author’s of child’s ment ill at young age
Why? Child differs from fam norms how?
 Other concerns?


Poor families
Divergence

betw fam & offic’l norms/labels 

Fam reluctant/ not likely to label
Diff betw kid’s behav & family norms?

LABELING “SPECIAL
EDUCATION” STUDENTS



Soc construct of special ed labeldepends on?
Political economy of “special ed” label
Incentives

Local school districts? Get what from whom?
 Principals? Special ed studs exempt from?
 Teachers? Send strugg/ disrupt studs where?


Bureaucracy?



Beast needs to be fed w/what?

Inconsistencies in “retarded” v. “learn disable” No

clear definitional rules

MENTAL PATIENTS
(INPATIENT PHASE)



Pseudopatients labeled “schizophrenic”



Diff interps of patients/non-patients due