The Impact of Stereotypes on Public Opinion about Mental Illness - Essay Example

? Research Paper on Psychology Mental illnesses refer to medical conditions that tend to disrupt people’s mood, thinking,feelings, and the capacity to relate with others in the society. Mental illnesses can affect everyone in the society regardless of age, sex, or social status. A number of social and psychological factors affect the way the society views, understands, and relates to persons with mental illnesses. This paper seeks to discuss how stereotyping, as a psychological factor, has influenced the society’s view of mental illness. In addition, the paper will trace the history of the influence of stereotyping. The paper will also include a prediction of how stereotyping will continue to influence attitudes, behaviors, personal, and cultural beliefs. The paper will end with a summative conclusion. Research Paper on Psychology Introduction According to Borinstein (1992), people with mental illnesses face double challenges. First, they have to struggle with the symptoms resulting from the condition. Secondly, they face challenges from the prejudices and stereotypes caused by the misconceptions that the society has about mentally sick people. Inaccurate portrayals have a significant negative impact on persons with mental illnesses. Nearly all sectors in the society, including the public, families, and government agencies perceive people with mental illnesses negatively. This makes mentally ill persons have a negative view regarding their own health. These conditions influence the functioning of the affected individuals as they may be unable to cope with some demands in life. A brief History of negative stereotyping of persons with mental illnesses Negative stereotypes and perceptions of people with mental illness have a long history. Historically, persons with mental illnesses have faced remarkable challenges due to negative attitudes and social stigma that accompanies these conditions. Persistent rejection of people with mental illnesses can be seen across cultures, throughout history. Ancient Greek and Roman cultures perceived mentally ill persons as inhuman and a burden to the society. These two cultures saw persons with mental illness as immoral souls punished by God (Bawaskar, 2006). Further, persons with mental illnesses were seen as people possessed by demonic spirits, who required religious interventions, such as exorcisms, to heal them. As a result, the mentally ill persons encountered mockery, teasing, and the society used them for the purposes of social amusement. According to Wahl (1997), the stereotyping of persons with mental illness continued in the films. Several films released in the twentieth century represented negative images of mentally ill persons. For example, the Homicidal Maniac, as a stereotype can be traced to a film entitled Maniac Cook. In this film, released in 1909, Griffith introduced a stereotype, which portrayed the mentally ill person as deranged. This stereotype represented the violent nature of mental illness patients, who needed incarceration so as not to cause mayhem in the society. Other forms of this stereotype can be found in horror films like Psycho (1960), Halloween (1978) and later on the 1980 film known as the Friday the 13th series. Other stereotypes in movies included the Narcissistic Parasite, which viewed persons with mental illnesses as self-centered, attentions seekers, who were engaged in a narcissistic relationship with their therapists. The negative stereotyping of mentally ill persons has continued up to today. Influence of Stereotypes on the way the society treats persons with mental illness The negative stereotyping, of people with mental illnesses, has a remarkable negative impact. The numerous stereotypes and labels given to the mentally sick persons influence the ways in which the society views these people. Stereotypes about the mentally ill persons tend to be widespread and deeply rooted in the society (Bawaskar, 2006). The public stigmatizes people with mental illness in numerous ways. Stereotypes about the mentally sick persons appear in all sections of the society. Apart from the general public, well trained professionals, even in the field of psychiatry, stereotype mentally sick persons (Borinstein, 1992). The society stereotypes people with mental illness for the purpose of differentiation; this has led to a categorization of the insane and the sane. The society views people with mental illnesses as worthless and who cannot have the capacity to make viable decisions in life. This makes the society downgrade the mentally ill and alienate them from day to day activities of the entire society. Since mental illness incapacitates the individual, he or she may not be able to make significant decisions. As a result, members of the family or the entire society may decide for the person with mental illness. Thus, the society stereotypes them on the basis that they cannot be able to decide for themselves. Forms of stereotypes regarding the mental illness may entail ostracism and myths that the society has always applied regarding mental illness patients. For example, the society views the mentally sick persons as dangerous and violent. In the real sense, mentally ill persons may be the targets of violent acts, rather than the causes of violence (Borinstein, 1992). Over the years, the society has associated mentally sick persons with chaos. This misconception has influenced the way people treat the mental illness patients. As a result of this misconception, the society has restrained the mentally sick persons. The society does this with the main objective of preventing them from causing violence. In many instances, people with mental illness may be isolated, with the view that they may threaten public safety and security. The society has mistreated these patients by keeping them in isolated rooms, where they cannot interact with other members of the society (Wahl, 1997). Bawaskar (2006) asserts that the society may misconceive mental illness as some form of personal weakness and lack of proper self-control. As a result of this stereotype, the society perceives the mentally ill as lazy persons and people who lack the will. In the actual sense, mentally sick persons have little control over the symptoms of their condition. An attitude towards them, as lazy, has made the society alienate them in crucial development projects. Consequently, they rarely benefit from development endeavors. The persistent view of mental illness as lack of self-worth seems to cause endless stigma in the patients. It has led to violence against the mentally ill persons; this happens because the rest of the society disregards them. Stereotyping of mentally ill persons leads to stigmatization. Consequently, stigmatization affects the way the society treats mentally ill persons. As a result of stigma, it becomes extremely difficult for the mentally sick persons to cope with other people in the society. Stereotypes influence the support given to the mentally ill persons, from the rest of society. Stigmatization, as a result of stereotyping, leads to discrimination of the mentally ill persons in various sectors of the economy (Schneider, 2005). For example, they may encounter discrimination in health institutions and social organizations. This hinders the mentally ill persons from seeking treatment or support. Stigmatization has created barriers to the access of health; as a result, they tend to keep quiet about their illness. The stereotyping of mentally ill persons can be seen in employment. After spending some time in the hospital, they may lose their jobs. In addition, employers may also reduce the number of responsibilities and roles formerly carried out by the person with a mental illness (Schneider, 2005). This has affected their economic well-being; it hinders them from providing for their families. Employers cannot hire a person with a mental illness, even when they have the required qualifications for the job. Moreover, people with signs of mental illness may be fired. Stereotypes directed towards people with mental illnesses can also be seen in instances when people with suicidal tendencies seek medical assistance. In most instances, the doctors may stay for quite a long time without attending to such patients. This happens because suicidal tendencies can be viewed as inadequacies. The society treats those who attempt suicide unfavorably. In some instances, they may be perceived as having evil spirits (Borinstein, 1992). The society has never succeeded in understanding the underlying causes of mental conditions, such as suicide. As a result, it becomes difficult for people to understand why people attempt suicide. Instead of assisting such people, the society discriminates against them and views them negatively. The society may blame people with mental illness on the basis of an undesirable character. Based on this, the society may not view mental illness as a disorder. Moreover, the society misconceives mentally ill persons as people facing a life sentence. As such, the society believes that a person with a mental illness cannot recover from his or her condition. Some people may have the belief that mentally ill persons cannot contribute to development in the society. This emanates from the misconception that they cannot be exemplary role models, good parents, and successful employees (Schneider, 2005). Prediction Stereotyping will continue to influence cultural beliefs, attitudes, behavior, and personal beliefs regarding mental illnesses. In the future, it is unlikely that people will denounce the negative stereotypes towards mentally ill persons. The society continues to have negative views regarding mentally sick persons. This can be seen from the labels that people continue to give individuals with mental illness. For example, the media massively contributes to spreading negative stereotypes by the use of words such as nuts. Mental illness stereotyping has become deeply rooted in the society; people can hardly have a positive view of the patients. Things may become worse as people continue to degrade persons with mental illnesses because they cannot provide for themselves or take part in crucial matters, in the society. Conclusion Stereotyping hinders the recovery of mentally ill persons. The negative views on the mentally sick persons create feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem. The stereotyping of mentally ill persons can be traced to the ancient Roman and Greek cultures. The depiction of mentally ill persons in movies also created negative stereotypes. Characters of mentally ill persons were presented as chaotic and dangerous. The society has stereotyped mentally ill persons by labeling them as possessed, evil, and demonic. Negative stereotyping has led to the discrimination of the mentally ill in nearly all sections of the society. In the future, the problem may persist since the society continues to have negative attitudes towards persons with mental illnesses. References Borinstein, A. B. (1992). Public attitudes towards people with mental illness. Health Affairs, 11(3), 186-196. Bawaskar, H. S. (2006). The many stigmas of mental illness. Lancet, 367 (9520), 1396-1397. Schneider, D. J. (2005). Psychology of Stereotyping. London: Guilford Press. Wahl, O. F. (1997). Media Madness: Public Images of Mental Illness. New Jersey: Rutgers University Press. Read More