Researchers examine how continuum beliefs affect public stigma and self-stigma by increasing the amount of perceived similarities between yourself and people with schizophrenia (Violeau et al., 2020).
Increasing evidence has shown that continuum beliefs as a promising way to reduce psychiatric stigma in the general population. The study tests whether continuum beliefs affect self-stigma and public stigma by raising the amount of realized similarities between oneself and those with schizophrenia. Acknowledging these similarities could reduce public stigma but increase self-stigma. 565 participants completed an online survey, there were three experimental conditions, all involved videos of either supporting a continuum viewpoint of schizophrenia, a categorical viewpoint of schizophrenia, or a neutral video. Results showed that effects of categorical or continuum beliefs on self-stereotype association were determined by perceived similarities. Analyses suggests that continuum beliefs about schizophrenia act as a recategorization mechanism, by increasing perceived similarities with the stereotyped group.
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