Health professionals as stigmatizers and destigmatizers of diseases: Alcoholism and leprosy as examples

Ilse J. Volinn

Social Science & Medicine, 1983, vol. 17, issue 7, 385-393

Abstract: Two disease entities are used for the analysis of stigmatization processes within the health care system. It is shown how overall cultural norms, specific professional role interpretations and certain characteristics of the disease are contributory factors. Cultural norms of devaluating persons with disabilities are considered. The relative power of the medical profession within the health care system is assessed in order to evaluate their potentially stigmatizing impact. Previously formulated theoretical concepts and findings of empirical studies provide the overall framework for the discussion. The conclusions include implications which might lead to the improvement of treatment and rehabilitation of currently stigmatizing diseases.

Date: 1983
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/0277-9536(83)90341-6
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:socmed:v:17:y:1983:i:7:p:385-393

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/supportfaq.cws_home/regional
http://www.elsevier. ... _01_ooc_1&version=01

Access Statistics for this article

Social Science & Medicine is currently edited by Ichiro (I.) Kawachi and S.V. (S.V.) Subramanian

More articles in Social Science & Medicine from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().