Genes and Stigma: The Connection Between Perceived Genetic Etiology and Attitudes and Beliefs About Mental Illness

Abstract

An increased emphasis on biological causes of mental illness has been viewed as having the potential to significantly reduce stigma. From this perspective, the current genetics revolution can be seen as a source of hope with regard to reducing stigma. However, theory and empirical research suggest that biological attributions may have complex effects for stigma, reducing it along some dimensions while magnifying it along others. In a sample of 56 residents of New York City and Los Angeles, we assess the relationship between respondents' belief that schizophrenia (as described in a vignette) is influenced by genetic factors and several stigma-related beliefs and attitudes about the vignette subject. We find that respondents who believe the problem may be influenced by genetics are less likely to think the person did anything to cause the problem but also less likely to think the person can improve with appropriate help and more likely to think other family members may develop the same problem. These results suggest that the genetics revolution may have both positive and negative effects for the stigma of mental illness as it affects both ill individuals and their families. We suggest that it is important to attend to these effects because, at the present time, when genetic knowledge is accruing rapidly and the cultural response to these advances is evolving in turn, we may have an unusual opportunity to influence the public interpretation of and reaction to this knowledge in a way that will reduce rather than exacerbate the stigma of mental illness.