Loading...
Effects of Collectivist versus Individualist Thinking on Mental Illness Stigma
Journal Title
Readers/Advisors
Toskos, Alexia C.
Journal Title
Term and Year
Spring 2024
Publication Date
2024
Book Title
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
Publication Begin
Publication End
Number of pages
Collections
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Abstract
Do collectivist cultures display more mental illness stigma than individualist cultures? Prior research has compared how collectivist cultures react differently to mental illness and show more stigma than individualist cultures (Abdullah & Brown, 2011). The present study aimed to manipulate collectivist thinking experimentally to test whether the relationship between collectivism and stigma is causal. Participants were primed into either a collectivist or individualist mindset through a short passage. Afterward, they read a vignette about a man who was experiencing symptoms of psychosis. Participants completed a social distance scale to measure how close they were willing to be with the man from the vignette. Participants also completed a scale measuring mental illness stigma in general. Overall, Black Americans displayed less desire for social distance than did members of any other cultural group in this sample. There were no significant effects of the type of prime participants received on measures of stigma; however, trends among Asian Americans and men in general suggest that collectivist primes may increase those individuals' desire for social distance. The potential influence of culture on mental illness stigma and what measures can be taken to significantly reduce stigma among collectivist cultures needs to be further researched.
Citation
DOI
Description
Accessibility Statement
Purchase College - State University of New York (PC) is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have an opportunity equal to that of their nondisabled peers to participate in the College's programs, benefits, and services, including those delivered through electronic and information technology. If you encounter an access barrier with a specific item and have a remediation request, please contact lib.ir@purchase.edu.