Bernice A. Pescosolido
The Public Stigma of Mental Illness
Indiana University Bloomington
1990s sociology faced frustrating paradox classic work mental illness stigma labeling theory reinforced mark mental illness created prejudice discrimination individuals family members yet foundation coupled deinstitutionalization mental health care produced contradictory responses claims stigma dissipating made others argued intervention efforts needed reduce stigma signaling critical role theorybased research establishing pervasive effects stigma claims directed resources away social science research yet contemporary scientific foundation underlying claims weak reply came resurgence research directed toward mental illness stigma nationally internationally bringing together researchers different disciplines first time report general populations attitudes beliefs behavioral dispositions targeted public stigma implications next decade research intervention efforts