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Stigma and prejudice: one animal or two?
Jo C Phelan1, Bruce G Link, John F Dovidio
1Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA. jcp13@columbia.edu
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|June 6, 2008
Summary
Prejudice and stigma models share commonalities, differing mainly in focus. Understanding their distinct functions—exploitation, norm enforcement, and disease avoidance—enhances efforts to reduce these social issues.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Increasing conceptual overlap between stigma and prejudice models.
- Need for a clearer understanding of their distinctions and commonalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review 18 key models of stigma and prejudice.
- To explore commonalities and distinctions between the two concepts.
- To develop a functional typology of stigma and prejudice.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of 18 conceptual models.
- Comparative analysis of model foci and emphases.
- Development of a functional typology based on review findings.
Main Results:
- Stigma and prejudice models exhibit significant overlap, differing primarily in focus and emphasis.
- Prejudice models often focus on race, while stigma models emphasize deviant behavior, identities, disease, and disabilities.
- A typology of three functions was identified: exploitation/domination, norm enforcement, and disease avoidance.
Conclusions:
- Stigma and prejudice are closely related concepts with shared underlying structures.
- Recognizing the distinct functional roles of stigma and prejudice is crucial for targeted interventions.
- The proposed functional typology offers a framework to enhance understanding and reduction strategies for stigma and prejudice.
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