PSY 282 Chapter Notes - Chapter 0: Schizophrenia, Psychiatric Services, Social Cognition

• School: University of Rochester
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 282
• Professor: Ryan Thibodeau

Document Summary

Not only do people with mental illness have to struggle with the symptoms of the disease itself, they also have to deal with the misunderstandings of society about mental illness that result in stigma. Mental illness results not only in the difficulties arising from the symptoms of the disease but also in disadvantages through society"s reactions. Self-stigma: when a person with mental illness accepts the common prejudice about mental illness, turns them against themselves, and loses self-confidence. Three common misconceptions about people with mental illness that also entail certain factors: They are homicidal maniacs who should be feared. So they are to be feared and should be kept out of communities. So they are irresponsible and their life decisions should be made by others. They have childlike perceptions of the world that should be marveled. So people with severe mental illness are childlike and need to be cared for.