Psychology Chapter 11: Coping with Social Stigma

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Questions and Answers

What is stigma consciousness?

Awareness that one is singled out by others based on an attribute that is negatively stereotyped.

What is self-concept?

Summary of one's self-knowledge consisting of traits, roles, and abilities.

What is identity in the context of self-concept?

The most central or defining elements of the self-concept.

What are the two ways to reduce stigma?

<ol> <li>Align virtual identity with actual self views, needing attitude change among the public; 2) Align actual identity with virtual identity, which can reinforce stereotypes.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What does master status attribute refer to?

All of a stigmatized person's other abilities and qualities become subordinate to and colored by this. Signup and view all the answers

What are the consequences of a master status self-concept for adjustment?

Individuals with simple self-concepts are psychologically vulnerable due to lack of diversified identities. Signup and view all the answers

What is self-esteem?

Refers to our feelings of personal value, worthiness, and competence. Signup and view all the answers

How does stigma influence self-esteem?

<ol> <li>Self-esteem is affected by evaluations from others; 2) Developed by demonstrating competence and achieving positive outcomes.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What are the three primary ways discrimination can lead to poorer health?

<ol> <li>Poorer psychological well-being; 2) Physiological stress response; 3) Unhealthy behaviors.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What is stigma management?

Individual strategies for coping with social stigma. Signup and view all the answers

What are three strategies for gaining social acceptance?

<ol> <li>Withdrawal; 2) Passing; 3) Capitalizing on stigma.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What does withdrawal mean in the context of stigma?

Avoiding people outside of your stigmatized group out of fear of perceived or actual rejection. Signup and view all the answers

What is passing?

Methods and strategies for concealing one's stigmatizing attribute or condition from others. Signup and view all the answers

What are the consequences of concealing one's stigma?

<ol> <li>Feedback based on false pretenses; 2) Isolation from others; 3) Fear of discovery; 4) Avoidance of social situations.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What does capitalizing on stigma mean?

Using one's stigma as a positive multidimensional trait. Signup and view all the answers

What is self-promotion in the context of a stigmatized person?

Demonstrating to others that one is multidimensional and competent in several domains. Signup and view all the answers

What does compensation refer to?

Deliberately presenting behaviors that contradict assumptions about abilities or character. Signup and view all the answers

What are the cornerstones of psychological well-being?

Low psychological distress, high self-esteem, and a self-concept consisting of positive terms held with certainty. Signup and view all the answers

What are six strategies for protecting psychological well-being?

<ol> <li>Attributing negative outcomes to prejudice; 2) Devaluing negative outcome dimensions; 3) Making in-group comparisons; 4) Self-affirmation; 5) Mindfulness; 6) Seeking social support.</li> </ol> Signup and view all the answers

What does devaluing negative outcome dimensions mean?

When you receive criticism in an area not important to you, it doesn't hurt as much. Signup and view all the answers

What is making in-group comparisons?

Comparing one's outcomes with those of similar others can be less threatening and beneficial. Signup and view all the answers

What does self-affirmation involve?

Focusing on an important, positive aspect of self-concept that has not been threatened. Signup and view all the answers

What is mindfulness the centerpiece of?

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Signup and view all the answers

What is the goal of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?

To train stigmatized people to engage with their thoughts rather than escape them. Signup and view all the answers

What does covering involve?

Efforts to minimize the impact of one's stigmatizing attribute on social interactions. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Stigma and Self-Concept

Stigma consciousness refers to awareness of being negatively stereotyped due to an attribute.
Self-concept is a summary of self-knowledge, encompassing traits, roles, and abilities.
Identity represents the central elements that define one's self-concept.

Reducing Stigma

Aligning virtual identity with actual self requires changing public attitudes, enhancing positive self-concept.
Aligning actual identity with virtual identity can lead to fulfilling negative stereotypes, adversely affecting self-concept and well-being.

Master Status and Self-Concept

Master status attribute dictates that other qualities of a stigmatized person become secondary to the stigmatized trait.
Individuals with few identity facets have simple self-concepts, making them vulnerable when negative stereotypes define them.

Self-Esteem and Stigma

Self-esteem reflects feelings of personal worth and competence.
Stigma influences self-esteem through negative evaluations by others and successes in demonstrating competence.

Discrimination and Health

Discrimination negatively impacts health in three ways:
- Poor mental health leads to physical health deterioration.
- Physiological stress responses are triggered by discrimination.
- Discriminated individuals may engage in unhealthy behaviors while avoiding healthy ones.

Stigma Management Strategies

Stigma management involves individual methods for coping with social stigma.
Strategies for gaining social acceptance include:
- Withdrawal: Avoiding non-stigmatized groups to prevent rejection.
- Passing: Concealing stigmatizing attributes from others.
- Capitalizing on stigma: Embracing stigma as a multidimensional trait.

Consequences of Concealment

Concealing stigma can result in:
- Misleading feedback about abilities.
- Isolation from others with similar attributes.
- Anxiety from the fear of exposure.
- Difficulty forming close relationships due to avoidance of social situations.

Psychological Well-Being

Cornerstones of psychological well-being include: low distress, high self-esteem, and a positive, confident self-concept.
Six strategies to protect psychological well-being:
- Attributing negative outcomes to prejudice.
- Devaluing dimensions of negative outcomes.
- Making comparisons within one's stigmatized group.
- Engaging in self-affirmation.
- Practicing mindfulness.
- Seeking social support.

Mindfulness and Acceptance Therapy

Mindfulness is a key component of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).
ACT aims to help stigmatized individuals confront their stigma-related thoughts and reactions positively.

Covering

Covering refers to efforts made to reduce the visibility of a stigmatizing attribute in social interactions.

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Description

This quiz focuses on key terms related to social stigma from Psychology Chapter 11. It includes definitions and concepts like stigma consciousness and self-concept. Test your understanding of how identity shapes our perceptions and interactions.