So wie das Gewölbe hoch über uns türmt, so unsere Vorurteile den Raum schaffen für unsere Gedanke / As the vault towers over us, so our prejudices create the space for our thoughts.In der Psychiatrie habe ich viel mit Stigmaforschung zu tun, meistens im Bezug auf psychische Krankheiten. Stigmatisierung aber trifft viele Gebiete des Alltags und stellt sich als aktuelles Problem europa- und weltweit (man denke an das dritte Reich und die versuchte Vernichtung von Juden, Zigeunern, Homosexuellen, etc.). Selbst der Konflikt im Nahen Osten ist mit Stigmatisierung behaftet. So möchte ich aus meiner Arbeit gelegentliche Gedanken zum Thema Stigmatisierung zusammentragen. Die Gedanken entstammen nicht meiner Feder, aber sie stellen meine gut dar. Im Flogenden habt ihr eine Liste, die den Stigmatisierungsprozess beschreibt.
In psychiatry I deal a lot with stigma research, usually connected with mental illnesses. Stigma is found in many areas of daily life and is a current problem in Europe and the whole world (one only need think of the third Reich and the attempted annihilation of the Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, and other minorities.) Even the conflict in the Middle East is ridden with stigmas. Thus, from time to time I would like to present thoughts from my work about stigma. These thoughts do not come from my pen, but they present my convictions well. Following is a list delineating the process of stigmatization.
1. People make distinctions and give the differences between people or groups of people names - labels.
2. The strongest cultural beliefs connect labelled persons to undesirable characteristics that form a stereotype.
3. Labelled persons are seen as an out-group, as "them" and not "us."
4. Labelled persons experience loss of status and discrimination leading to unequal (i.e. unfair) outcomes.
The labels are the most important part; they set off a cascade of stereotypes and emotional reactions by connecting a group with negative memories and qualities in a culture.
Ich mache erstmal Pause. Hilft mir mit ein paar Beispielen.
I'll take a little break for now. Help me with a few examples.
4 Kommentare:
So it seems to me that the key thing to do is to always keep formost in your mind is that everyone is an individual.
Yes, and each individual is a unique blend of strengths and weaknesses, of influences both genetic and learned. While social, psychological, intellectual, and religious categories may influence an individual, each person both shares in the group and yet brings their own unique mixture with their own personality to the forefront.
An interesting comparison, Chris. In the USA nudity in public is a strong taboo, getting labels from many segments of society - commune, exhibitionists, voyeurs, etc. Here it is not an issue. While there are nudist organizations here, most people just wear either something or nothing at lakes, beaches, parks, etc. and don't think further.
Homosexuality is another topic: in the USA some think all gays are pedophiles and consider them in some sense ill, while here even leading national politicians and mayors (like the mayors of Hamburg and Berlin) are openly gay and bring their boyfriends to important public events. In Munich and Berlin, at least, you regulary see gays and lesbians walking down the street or in restaurants holding hands and behaving "otherwise" normally - they don't appear to be ill.
That's an excellent point, Aggie. The Bible says we are like sheep. And the collective psyche is sometimes used to try to "get Germans off the hook" concerning guilt for WWII - the argument is it could happen to any country. The hermeneutics of phenomonolgy speak to group consciousness and also point out the political and social power of labels in swaying group consciousness.
So, those of us who "see through" the labelling process have a responsibility to point out the injustice of assuming that all members of any group behave the same.
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