psych 157- What is stigma?

Goffman: Virtual and actual social identity

- " a special discrepancy between virtual and actual identity - virtual identity refers to expectations, - actual identity refers to actual or provable attributes - "special discrepancy" referes to an attribute that is deeply discrediting

what is the evolutionary theory of stigma? how does Jones theory on peril relate to this?

- evolutionary theory- not just survival of the fittest but all emotion, cog, behavioral systems that promote survival/ reproduction get passed down - stigma keep dangerous people away so we are safe

Goffman's definition of stigma

- possessing an attribute that reduces a person in our minds from whole and usual person to a tainted and discounted one -different from others -less desirable -reduced from whole to tainted

kroquer and major definition of stigma

- those who possess or are believed to possess some attribute or characteristic that conveys a social identity that is devalued in a particular social context

Compare Jones' and Goffman's definitions, how are they similar? how are they different?

-goffman's is simpler (3 categories) while Jones' separates stigma's into 7 different sections - Goffman refers to stigma as a spoiled identity - Jones says having a mark doesn't equal stigmatization but rather stigmatization occurs when a connection between the mark and an aspect of that person happens

Jones: different dimensions of stigma (6)

1. concealability 2. peril 3. origin 4. course 5. disruptiveness 6. aesthetics

Goffman's categories of stigma

1. tribal 2. abominations of the body 3. blemishes of character

define stigma in your own words

a stigma is a type of attribute or characteristic that is use in social interactions to devalue a person or group of people

origin

controllability

disruptiveness

how much the stigma interupts social interaction

aesthetics

how pleasant or unpleasant

concealability

how visible/not visible

peril

is it perceived as dangerous

what does jones say is the most important dimension? why?

peril- because it is threat. - all other dimensions are just potential indicators of peril

What different types of stigma are there?

physical, group, social

Jones definition of stigma what is it? when does it occur?

stigma is a process or relationship between normals and marked, -stigmatization occurs when a link is made between the mark and a central aspect of the marked person's disposition or identity