The Difference Between Stigma vs. Stereotype

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsStigma vs. StereotypeExamples of StigmaCultural PerpetuationConsequencesAdvocatingFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Stigma vs. Stereotype

Examples of Stigma

Cultural Perpetuation

Consequences

Advocating

Frequently Asked Questions

The terms “stigma” and “stereotype” are often used to describe negative behaviors in society that are directed towards specific groups of people. When a certain thing is attached to a stigma, it is associated with feelings of shame.

In society, stigmas and stereotypes are often involved in shaming or discriminating against people who have amental illness, certain disabilities, or are a part of a certain sexuality, race, or religion.

Both stereotypes and stigmas can have powerful holds on society as a whole and can leave a mark on certain people or groups that leave them feeling ashamed or in danger for simply being.

Read on to find out more about stigmas and stereotypes and how they differ from one another.

Stigma vs. Stereotype Definitions

Stigma

The Oxford dictionary defines stigma as, “a mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person.”

Stereotype

The Oxford Dictionary defines a stereotype as, “a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.”

While the two definitions seem similar, and they are, there are some marked differences between the two.

A stigma is always negative and develops because of a stereotype. Stereotypes, although often wrong or partially wrong, aren’t always negative. Although stereotypes can be positive, they are still problematic because they “other” people, don’t allow people to be seen as individuals, and box people into certain expectations.

Examples of stigma include:

Examples of stereotypes (which may not always be negative) include:

The Development of Stigmas and Stereotypes

Discrimination

According to the American Psychiatric Association, stigmas that develop because of perpetuated stereotypes can lead to discrimination.

Discrimination is the unfair treatment of groups of people because of held beliefs surrounding their health status, sex, age, or race.

Discrimination can be both direct and indirect and can come in the form of:

Examples

Direct discrimination occurs when done directly from one person to a specific group of people; indirect discrimination takes place when a person is discriminatory on behalf of someone else.

For example, a person who owns a rental property excludes a person with a disability from living at the property. That is a form of direct discrimination. A manager of a rental property that has been told to screen people with disabilities is an example of indirect discrimination.

Another example of discrimination is when an older adult applies for a job that they are qualified for. Since they are older than other candidates, the employer decides to hire someone with fewer qualifications because they are younger. That is a form of age discrimination.

Cultural perpetuation is a way in which certain stigmas and stereotypes continue to pass from one generation to the next. This type of perpetuation of certain long-held beliefs or notions surrounding stigmas and stereotypes is what gives them their longevity.

How Does Cultural Perpetuation Advance Stereotypes?The longer a culture supports a specific stereotype or stigma, the more staying power it has.

How Does Cultural Perpetuation Advance Stereotypes?

The longer a culture supports a specific stereotype or stigma, the more staying power it has.

Studies suggest that stereotypes are perpetuated because of the cultural schema theory, which is a theory based on the idea that people use certain classifications to help them understand cultures other than their own.

When they do this with misinformation that they have been taught about specific groups of people, they keep the cycle of stereotypical discrimination going.

The idea of cultural schema can also be used to help people justify certain negative experiences they’ve had because they connect them to long-held negative stereotypical beliefs.

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What Are the Consequences of Stigma and Stereotypes?

The vast collection of stigmas and stereotypes still prevalent in society leads to negative consequences for the people and groups involved. These consequences range depending on the group being stigmatized and the result of the discrimination.

On Marginalized Groups

Marginalized populations are groups of people who are continuously subjected to discrimination and exclusion because of who they are. Some examples of marginalized groups include:

These groups are marginalized because there is an uneven distribution of power between social groups and that is largely due to stereotypical beliefs and stigmas. The consequences of this power imbalance lead to many challenges and discrepancies, such as:

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Around Mental Health

The stigma surrounding mental health has been slowly decreasing in recent years, however, it is still strong and those with mental health issues are still subject to discrimination. Because of this, people with mental health issues can experience:

Self-Stigma and Mental IllnessBecause of the societal stigma attached to mental health disorders, many people with psychiatric disorders often self-stigmatize. This means that they have a negative attitude towards themselves. Having self-stigmatizing attitudes have been shown to decrease a person’s likelihood of recovering from their mental illness.

Self-Stigma and Mental Illness

Because of the societal stigma attached to mental health disorders, many people with psychiatric disorders often self-stigmatize. This means that they have a negative attitude towards themselves. Having self-stigmatizing attitudes have been shown to decrease a person’s likelihood of recovering from their mental illness.

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Around Substance Abuse

Many people with addiction or substance abuse disorder often find themselves heavily stigmatized. People look down on those who use substances, and because of this, certain consequences plague people with addiction. They can include:

When people suffer from addiction, they can experience three types of stigma: self, social, and structural.

Self-stigma is when they begin to have negative attitudes towards themselves which can increase drug use, cause low-self-esteem, and avoid reaching out for help. Social stigma comes from outside sources and often leads to self-stigma.

Advocating Against Negative Stigma

Many things can be done to help reduce stigma across different groups. Becoming an ally with groups that experience stereotypical discrimination is the first step in understanding how they are affected and what needs to be done to change how society views certain communities.

What the Law Says

There are various laws in place that are designed to keep discrimination from occurring, but that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t still happen.

For example, the Americans with Disabilities Act was developed to help protect people with disabilities from discrimination. That being said, not all laws that are in place to end stigma and discrimination based on stigma are adhered to all of the time.

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What You Can Do to Stop Stigma and Discrimination

Several things can be done to help reduce stigma:

Summary

Stigmas and stereotypes are still rampant in the United States. Although the two are not the same thing, they both develop into discriminatory behaviors towards people who do not deserve it.

While a stigma is always negative, stereotypes are not. They can be both positive and negative. That being said, both negative and positive stereotypes can have negative consequences because they are often untrue.

Stereotypes influence the development of stigmas and stigmas influence discrimination. While the three are different in definition, they are all closely tied together. You cannot have a stigma without a perpetuated stereotype.

People most often hear about mental disorders being highly stigmatized, but they are not the only health condition that is attached to negative beliefs and attitudes. Other disorders that are or have been heavily stigmatized include HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, epilepsy, substance use disorders, and venereal diseases.

13 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Campellone TR, Caponigro JM, Kring AM.The power to resist: the relationship between power, stigma, and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.Psychiatry Res.2014;215(2):280-285. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2013.11.020Turan JM, Elafros MA, Logie CH, et al.Challenges and opportunities in examining and addressing intersectional stigma and health.BMC Med. 2019;17(1):7. doi:10.1186/s12916-018-1246-9Better Health Channel.Stigma, discrimination and mental illness.Planned Parenthood.What are gender roles and stereotypes?American Psychiatric Association.Stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against people with mental illness.Ontario Human Rights Commission.10. Forms of Discrimination.Hunzaker MBF.Making sense of misfortune: cultural schemas, victim redefinition, and the perpetuation of stereotypes.Social Psychology Quarterly. 2014;77(2):166-184. doi:10.1177/0190272514521219Sevelius JM, Gutierrez-Mock L, Zamudio-Haas S, et al.Research with marginalized communities: challenges to continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic.AIDS Behav.2020;24(7):2009-2012. doi:10.1007/s10461-020-02920-3Baah FO, Teitelman AM, Riegel B.Marginalization: Conceptualizing patient vulnerabilities in the framework of social determinants of health—An integrative review.Nursing Inquiry. 2019;26(1):e12268. doi:10.1111/nin.12268Hochhauser S, Rao S, England-Kennedy E, Roy S.Why social justice matters: a context for suicide prevention efforts.Int J Equity Health.2020;19(1):76. doi:10.1186/s12939-020-01173-9Oexle N, Müller M, Kawohl W, et al.Self-stigma as a barrier to recovery: a longitudinal study.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.2018;268(2):209-212. doi:10.1007/s00406-017-0773-2Government of Canada.Stigma around drug use.Kane JC, Elafros MA, Murray SM, et al.A scoping review of health-related stigma outcomes for high-burden diseases in low- and middle-income countries.BMC Med.2019;17(1):17. doi:10.1186/s12916-019-1250-8

13 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Campellone TR, Caponigro JM, Kring AM.The power to resist: the relationship between power, stigma, and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.Psychiatry Res.2014;215(2):280-285. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2013.11.020Turan JM, Elafros MA, Logie CH, et al.Challenges and opportunities in examining and addressing intersectional stigma and health.BMC Med. 2019;17(1):7. doi:10.1186/s12916-018-1246-9Better Health Channel.Stigma, discrimination and mental illness.Planned Parenthood.What are gender roles and stereotypes?American Psychiatric Association.Stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against people with mental illness.Ontario Human Rights Commission.10. Forms of Discrimination.Hunzaker MBF.Making sense of misfortune: cultural schemas, victim redefinition, and the perpetuation of stereotypes.Social Psychology Quarterly. 2014;77(2):166-184. doi:10.1177/0190272514521219Sevelius JM, Gutierrez-Mock L, Zamudio-Haas S, et al.Research with marginalized communities: challenges to continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic.AIDS Behav.2020;24(7):2009-2012. doi:10.1007/s10461-020-02920-3Baah FO, Teitelman AM, Riegel B.Marginalization: Conceptualizing patient vulnerabilities in the framework of social determinants of health—An integrative review.Nursing Inquiry. 2019;26(1):e12268. doi:10.1111/nin.12268Hochhauser S, Rao S, England-Kennedy E, Roy S.Why social justice matters: a context for suicide prevention efforts.Int J Equity Health.2020;19(1):76. doi:10.1186/s12939-020-01173-9Oexle N, Müller M, Kawohl W, et al.Self-stigma as a barrier to recovery: a longitudinal study.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.2018;268(2):209-212. doi:10.1007/s00406-017-0773-2Government of Canada.Stigma around drug use.Kane JC, Elafros MA, Murray SM, et al.A scoping review of health-related stigma outcomes for high-burden diseases in low- and middle-income countries.BMC Med.2019;17(1):17. doi:10.1186/s12916-019-1250-8

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Campellone TR, Caponigro JM, Kring AM.The power to resist: the relationship between power, stigma, and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.Psychiatry Res.2014;215(2):280-285. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2013.11.020Turan JM, Elafros MA, Logie CH, et al.Challenges and opportunities in examining and addressing intersectional stigma and health.BMC Med. 2019;17(1):7. doi:10.1186/s12916-018-1246-9Better Health Channel.Stigma, discrimination and mental illness.Planned Parenthood.What are gender roles and stereotypes?American Psychiatric Association.Stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against people with mental illness.Ontario Human Rights Commission.10. Forms of Discrimination.Hunzaker MBF.Making sense of misfortune: cultural schemas, victim redefinition, and the perpetuation of stereotypes.Social Psychology Quarterly. 2014;77(2):166-184. doi:10.1177/0190272514521219Sevelius JM, Gutierrez-Mock L, Zamudio-Haas S, et al.Research with marginalized communities: challenges to continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic.AIDS Behav.2020;24(7):2009-2012. doi:10.1007/s10461-020-02920-3Baah FO, Teitelman AM, Riegel B.Marginalization: Conceptualizing patient vulnerabilities in the framework of social determinants of health—An integrative review.Nursing Inquiry. 2019;26(1):e12268. doi:10.1111/nin.12268Hochhauser S, Rao S, England-Kennedy E, Roy S.Why social justice matters: a context for suicide prevention efforts.Int J Equity Health.2020;19(1):76. doi:10.1186/s12939-020-01173-9Oexle N, Müller M, Kawohl W, et al.Self-stigma as a barrier to recovery: a longitudinal study.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.2018;268(2):209-212. doi:10.1007/s00406-017-0773-2Government of Canada.Stigma around drug use.Kane JC, Elafros MA, Murray SM, et al.A scoping review of health-related stigma outcomes for high-burden diseases in low- and middle-income countries.BMC Med.2019;17(1):17. doi:10.1186/s12916-019-1250-8

Campellone TR, Caponigro JM, Kring AM.The power to resist: the relationship between power, stigma, and negative symptoms in schizophrenia.Psychiatry Res.2014;215(2):280-285. doi:10.1016/j.psychres.2013.11.020

Turan JM, Elafros MA, Logie CH, et al.Challenges and opportunities in examining and addressing intersectional stigma and health.BMC Med. 2019;17(1):7. doi:10.1186/s12916-018-1246-9

Better Health Channel.Stigma, discrimination and mental illness.

Planned Parenthood.What are gender roles and stereotypes?

American Psychiatric Association.Stigma, prejudice, and discrimination against people with mental illness.

Ontario Human Rights Commission.10. Forms of Discrimination.

Hunzaker MBF.Making sense of misfortune: cultural schemas, victim redefinition, and the perpetuation of stereotypes.Social Psychology Quarterly. 2014;77(2):166-184. doi:10.1177/0190272514521219

Sevelius JM, Gutierrez-Mock L, Zamudio-Haas S, et al.Research with marginalized communities: challenges to continuity during the COVID-19 pandemic.AIDS Behav.2020;24(7):2009-2012. doi:10.1007/s10461-020-02920-3

Baah FO, Teitelman AM, Riegel B.Marginalization: Conceptualizing patient vulnerabilities in the framework of social determinants of health—An integrative review.Nursing Inquiry. 2019;26(1):e12268. doi:10.1111/nin.12268

Hochhauser S, Rao S, England-Kennedy E, Roy S.Why social justice matters: a context for suicide prevention efforts.Int J Equity Health.2020;19(1):76. doi:10.1186/s12939-020-01173-9

Oexle N, Müller M, Kawohl W, et al.Self-stigma as a barrier to recovery: a longitudinal study.Eur Arch Psychiatry Clin Neurosci.2018;268(2):209-212. doi:10.1007/s00406-017-0773-2

Government of Canada.Stigma around drug use.

Kane JC, Elafros MA, Murray SM, et al.A scoping review of health-related stigma outcomes for high-burden diseases in low- and middle-income countries.BMC Med.2019;17(1):17. doi:10.1186/s12916-019-1250-8

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