Inuit attitudes toward deviant behavior: a vignette study

Attitudes toward deviant behavior that might indicate psychiatric disorder were investigated among the Inuit of Northern Québec (Nunavik). In a convenience sample of 137 Inuit adults, respondents were randomly presented with one of six different vignettes that described a man with "strange" behavior who was either threatening or withdrawn and whose problem was labeled either "isumaluttuq" ("burdened or weighed down by thoughts"), "demon possession," or "mental illness." Respondents rated their willingness to live, work, or hunt with this person and allow him into their family on a social distance scale. Significant predictors of greater social distance were female gender, more education, less familiarity with the behavior, and perception of the person as less likely to recover. There were no significant effects of vignette behavior or label on social distance ratings. Rating of likelihood of recovery was influenced by the vignette label, with isumaluttuq associated with less chance of recovery. Ascribing strange behavior to morally wrong action and to spirits or demons were highly inter-correlated and each was associated with perception of greater likelihood of recovery. Results suggest that Inuit attitudes toward deviant behavior are influenced more by perceived familiarity and likelihood of recovery than by labels, causal attributions, or explanations. The indigenous psychological concept of isumaluttuq does not serve to reduce social stigma. Efforts to promote the community integration of psychiatric patients through education should aim to increase familiarity with the problematic behavior and emphasize potential for recovery.