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Influence Of Personal Growth Initiative And Public Self-consciousness On Perceived Stigmatization Among Drug Users
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Stigma
may also be described as a label that associates a person to a set of
unwanted characteristics that form a stereotype (Levin & Laar,
2004). Once people identify and label our differences, others will
assume that is just how things are and the person will remain
stigmatized until the stigmatizing attribute is undetected. A
considerable amount of generalization is required to create groups,
meaning that someone is put in a general group regardless of how well
that person actually fit into that group (Louise & Eilis, 2014).
However, the attributes that society selects differ according to time
and place. What is considered out of place in one society could be the
norm in another. When society categorizes individuals into certain
groups the labeled person is subjected to status loss and discrimination
(Williams, Neighbors & Jackson, 2003). Society will start to form
expectations about those groups once the cultural stereotype is secured.
Stigma
may affect the behavior of those who are stigmatized. Those who are
stereotyped often start to act in ways that their stigmatizers expect of
them. For example, drug users may form cliques to encourage one another
and as a result continue in the consumption of drugs. It not only
changes their behavior, but it also shapes their emotions and beliefs
(Williams, Neighbors & Jackson, 2003). Members of stigmatized groups
also face prejudice that causes depression (i.e. deprejudice) (Louise
& Eilis, 2014). These stigmas put a person's social identity in
threatening situations, like low self-esteem.
There are different
types of stigmas that are brought to mind when thinking about drugs or
alcohol users. The majority of these stigmas make negative assumptions
about lifestyles that include drugs and alcohol. Some of the stigmas
people hold about drug users are: people who abuse substances are
typically deviants and don’t engage in society like the rest of the
population (O'Driscoll, Heary, Hennessy & McKeague, 2012). They
embody different values to mainstream society: skirting the edges,
unemployed, victims of bad upbringings, high school drop outs and
prostitutes. They take drugs in dark, dirty alleyways or squats, rob
innocent people, go on binges and engage in high risk behaviors. The
reality of substance abusers is that the majority are just like everyone
else. They are parents, children, friends, workmates, sisters and
brothers. They hold down jobs, have friends, go to social functions and
enjoy their weekends. Some fail to manage their addiction and do become
entrenched in a lifestyle that the stereotypes embody, but many do not.
An addiction does not discriminate between rich and poor, young or old.
Medical workers, law enforcement, insurance companies and employers may
tap into their own stereotypes if they are faced with an addict (Link
& Phelan, 2001). An employer may believe that persons suffering from
alcoholism are untrustworthy and fire them from their role. A police
officer may think that because someone is a heroin addict the person
will be involved in a theft. Most people who have a substance abuse
problem are able to exist in society without causing problems for others
(Hughey, 2012). Substance abusers will deny their problem and hide it
from others for fear of being discriminated. They will feel the shame
associated with a stereotype and be weakened by the constant negative
connotations of addiction (Campbell & Deacon, 2006). They may also
struggle with their problem for too long without getting help until the
consequences are too severe.
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ABSRACT - [ Total Page(s): 1 ]The study examined the influence of personal growth initiative and public self-consciousness on perceived stigmatization among drug users in Uyo Metropolis. Two hundred and thirty-four (234) participants (171 males and 63 females) were selected from major bunks in Uyo Metropolis. These participants were selected using purposive sampling technique. Perceived Stigmatization Scale for drug users (King, Dinos, Shaw, Watson, Stevens, Passetti, Weich & Mar, 2007), Personal Growth Initiative Scale (Rob ... Continue reading---
