What is Stigma? Explaining Goffman's Idea of Spoiled Identity

[@Szminsky]

I’m currently writing an MA in cinema studies, exploring educational films about mental illness in the 50’s. Stigma is naturally a term I would like to apply in my case studies. Thanks for the vid.

[@victorbraitberg5188]

Such outstanding presentation. Accurate clear engaging and concise. I’m using your videos in all my classes.

[@ggeo1872]

Stigma exists in the relation between the attribute and the audience not in the person. Thank you this was really helpful.

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

That was so eye opening for me too.

[@Trandoshaner]

Thank you so much for your explanation! I am currently taking a course at my university regarding sociology and this video really helped me understanding Goffman's idea of stigma.

[@catra6]

thank you! my teacher recommended your video for the final exams and it was really helpful! nice work

[@CapricornSceptic]

We can do that tomorrow at night and if we can go get back into the park and park on Saturday and then I’ll park at the park and for a walk in the park and then I’ll park at the park and park

[@JudeScott007]

I was exiting a cafe and held the door open for mom and son (approx 7 or 8) and ourside the boy and mom sat on a bench for a sec. He said "I like it when people hold the door for me, because...bec...trying to express himself. And finally " ...because it means they know I'm here". It's the essence of what you said was the most important thing to inderstand. This mother and I looked at eachother in wonder...just that eye contact said so much, no word was spoken. Most adults dont ever get that innate kind of appreciation.

[@JudeScott007]

I see a real lack of fully and willingingly acknowledging eachother has dramatically changed veryrapidly. It could be why there is so much talk about social behaviors like narcissism, entitlement, and bullying...etc The fact that we dont see the others "face" and maintain our own adequately, then both are unsuccesfull in our transaction. Empathy is essential and not all seem to naturally have it. (Social media is part of that for myself...another discussion!)

[@tammyd.970]

Thank you, this was very helpful. I don't normally like people just talking at a camera, but here it actually feels like I am in a conversation in which someone is carefully explaining a difficult concept to me. Maybe it's just the times (Covid)... The video was clear and concise, and just what a I needed to pull some thoughts together for a paper I am stuck on. Thank you! It would be great to have the sources listed in the description, and maybe a few more words on the screen now and then for place markers and for visual types. Good stuff, thanks!

[@deanwellerassociates]

A wonderful video, well paced, great structure. Really enjoyed this. Thank you.

[@nikarosandic1745]

thank you so much! this was a great help for better understanding of neighbourhood stigma, beautifully explained, great work! going to check out the part 2 right away

[@TheMovingn4]

Thank you for this explanation! I am taking Sociology in college and this is very helpful!

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

My pleasure. Please share it with your classmates.

[@Pajuujuu]

lol me too!

[@JudeScott007]

So meaningful to me! I will watch this many times! A lot to digest*.If we didn't learn this growing up, we need to learn it later. *Your mind is so quick and ability to deliver so skilled, it will behoove me to slow the audio down a notch. I could draw some sort of sceamatic to illustrate these concepts and put it on my fridge to remind me that I have some practicing to do!

[@hanna762]

...but we have the choise to not take the stigma that people want to give us. I try to live a godly life, nobody can harm me.

[@Raminakai]

Yes, but you will still have to deal with the choice others have to stigmatize you and the reality that certain opportunities will be hindered. Or harm that will come.

[@Meriembenne]

Wow...perfectly explained, very interesting and useful..thank you so much 🙏

[@kudzaitoma9440]

thank you for the video has helped me very much have an exam this week in sociology and goffmans theory is coming out thank you.!!

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

So glad it helped! Please share it with your classmates.

[@absalatdaniel2645]

needed this for my paper and did not understand anything till I watched this video. Thank you!

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

That’s what I’m here for. Tell your classmates. Where are you going to school?

[@absalatdaniel2645]

@@HowCommunicationWorks I will! And I go to Millersville university. Would you maybe be able to talk about the information control techniques employed by the discreditable?

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

I don’t have much time now. Information control is all about hiding information that might reveal your stigmatized attribute. Example might be hiding your drinking so people don’t know You are an alcoholic, or hiding your medications so people don’t know what your chronic illness is, or being secretive about your past if you’ve done something you’re ashamed of in the past.

[@absalatdaniel2645]

@@HowCommunicationWorks That's really helpful! I just wanted to confirm my knowledge. Thank you!

[@rachelgibson4811]

thank you i found this video very interesting and it helped me devolop a clear understanding of stigma for my sociology exam

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

You’re welcome, Rachel. Good luck on your exam. Would you mind sharing it with your classmates and teacher?

[@mobilehome7535]

Really good explanation. Read a few papers from some academics when they write about housing, with material circumstances such a poor quality dwelling (leaks etc) will impact residents daily lives more than symbolic stigmatization

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Yes. Stigma is only part of the problem. Material conditions really matter. But the two are connected. Once you’re stigmatized, the overt discrimination makes it harder to get on one’s feet.

[@peaceisrael8158]

Thanks well presented and im ready to write my exam after hearing this video

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Good luck!

[@alaashadad9598]

This is the best explanation i found about stigma! Thank you 🙏🏻

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

My pleasure.

[@flyingeaglewoman8682]

This speaks to how judgemental people can be and is damaging.

[@AS-hs5kk]

I like your point very much!

[@Melly16yr10]

Good point

[@simppuful]

Human mind and soul are very plenty of all kid of smart, intelligent, personality, identity, meniac, and all those values are got ten or twenty different genres. Like an artist. He got his favourite genre. Like we all got our favourites in all in our lifes.

[@randomnessa1414]

thank you so much for making this easy to understand. this video was really helpful to me!!

[@jonathanvermillion7263]

Thank you, just found out I have herpes and this helps describe how I feel very well. Much love to you

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Sorry to hear about the herpes. It’s extremely common but still very stigmatizing, especially at first. Glad my videos were useful.

[@jonathanvermillion7263]

@@HowCommunicationWorks extremely useful, I tend to need a cerebral explanation of concepts like this and your clear delivery has given me a precise concept to think about and self reflect on to empower myself in the future and others like me thank you very much

[@chenlian2592]

Thanks for summarizing the main idea in the book! Very helpful

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Thank you! I'm going to make at least one more on Stigma because this video only touched on a few of the main ideas.

[@julialednicky7542]

These videos are so interesting. Thank you for all of your content!

[@loturzelrestaurant]

Stigma and Prejudices... I believe for real we can end them if we just get enough People to watch various Issue-Coverage of 'Some More News' and 'Forrest Valkai'. They debunk so much Idiocy and cover so many Issues, local or global, i cant help but recommend them even if no one asked. Especially regarding LGBT-Issues.

[@divinepiccolo9469]

Very insightful, thank you.

[@Ves-]

Great video, thank you!

[@niamhiscool999]

Absolutely fabulous video!

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Thank you! Cheers! Please share with your friends and classmates.

[@blodsvedtaarer]

Still the best video out there abouth goffmans stigma

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Thank you.

[@Tubeyoruba]

People who are stigmatized are sometimes discriminated against

[@MarcoRussotto]

PERFECT EXPLANATION!

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Glad you think so!

[@gladysmaya2352]

Wow.soo educative.thanks.

[@musicman1685]

Great Great job.. so clear.

[@brandanbennett8386]

does you’re stigma change everywhere you go? or no matter what you’re identity is you’re stigma so that makes you stigmatized? does someone not have a stigma? can someone not be stigmatized? does society determine stigmas? do all humans hide? is a anyone honest? to be complete do you not hide anything? is not hiding anything a stigma? RAISES A TON OF QUESTIONS!!

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Goffman would say that the stigma is not in the person. He would say that stigma is a relationship between an attribute an audience. An attribute, like skin color, can stigmatize you before one audience and not stigmatize you before another audience. So the stigma is not in the person or in the attribute but in the relationship between the attribute and the audience.

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Stigma is a relationship between an attribute, like skin color, and an audience. So it changes as the audience of “normals” changes.

[@rihadjc1178]

This was good! Thank you!!

[@ramylekarla]

Thank you so much!! This video helped me a lot with my sociology assignment

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Glad it was helpful. Share it with your classmates, please.

[@cindichristiansen2862]

Just started my dissertation on stigma and mental health help-seeking among adolescents. Any information/references would be appreciated. I see you are with Alliant University. It's in my backyard. Do you give lectures?

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

I’m actually at Northwestern University in Chicago. KZbin is my main platform for talking about these topics for the public.

[@marinameier9689]

thank you so much for explaining ! And yes...obscure language ist used.....even in the translations :(

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Thanks. Please share with your classmates.

[@redhotkido]

Why is there a stigma attached to being on the autism spectrum? All my life I have been given a message that I have to "put on a persona" or "change" in order to function in society. Its emotionally exhausting having to do so, but I wanted to ask what your take is on aspergers syndrome or if you could make a video on this topic as you seem to have better understanding of this stuff based on this video(which was great btw).

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Autism is characterized, primarily by difficulties and social communication. Some people without these difficulties. See these differences as less than normal, and that’s where the stigma comes from. Check out my video called stop being awkward. It’s not specifically about autism, but it covers a lot of the territory you’re curious about.

[@lamontcranston3177]

After five minutes I had no idea where he was going or what this was about.

[@pmfg875]

So few understand what you are discussing, it’s almost illegal to understand the information these days. There is an attempt to institute DEI in a sport, and all that people do is try to attack anyone that supports it by calling them crazy, having a victim mentality, etc. People talk about “cancel culture” are mostly prejudiced towards more vulnerable groups in society. When a fully functioning and qualified disabled person trying to work gets “cancelled” it’s considered deserved and correct.

[@cine9nine]

Everyone stigmatizes others. Not you? Think about someone who holds views you detest. How do you describe them to your friends? Would you befriend them? Would you befriend them if it was publicly known?

[@bradfranklin-j66co]

13:32 stigma and chronic illness

[@amyrose3166]

Thank you. You're super-duper! :)

[@ayuerina6091]

Thank youuuuu

[@musicman1685]

I knew there was this “thing” in my workplace.. but never really put my finger on it. But YES.. it’s a monster at work and makes people (victims of this “flavor” of stigma at my job) respond by playing out roles of people they are not JUST to be accepted as NORMAL or a right fit for the particular work environment. What’s worse is that I’m witnessing firsthand it continuing into the next “generation” of workers. It’s awful.. it’s a Office Goliath boldly challenging anyone to bring him down. If I’m understanding this lesson one could easily bring prejudice and bullying into this conversation.

[@Bubblesandcandyfloss]

Thank you for this.

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

You’re most welcome.

[@loturzelrestaurant]

@@HowCommunicationWorks Stigma and Prejudices. I believe for real we can end them if we just get enough People to watch various Issue-Coverage of 'Some More News' and 'Forrest Valkai'. They debunk so much Idiocy and cover so many Issues, local or global, i cant help but recommend them even if no one asked. Especially regarding LGBT+-Issues.

[@mazlumtas9052]

Could you please tell me where I can find the name of the book recommended in the last min. of the video ? .

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Asylums, by Erving Goffman.

[@sukhpreetkaur3538]

Could you please explain me the difference between the virtual and real social identity and what happens when there's a discrepancy between them? Thank you so much !! :)

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

This sounds like a homework assignment

[@sukhpreetkaur3538]

@@HowCommunicationWorks No, it's not. I am a university student from Spain and I'm doing a project on stigmatzation of people with pedophilia. I've read many pages and also watched the 2 videos you have uploaded about the topic that really helped me clearing some concepts, but this one I asked you is not yet cleared. I would appreciate if you could explain me.

[@radhaghale4140]

Thank you!!!

[@kevintravelPH]

You have that Gregg Doucette energy

[@cine9nine]

What is the evolutionary purpose of stigmatization?

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

It’s probably related to the basic biological response of disgust. The evolutionary purpose of disgust was to stop us from eating spoiled food or getting near bacteria that would infect us. Stigma is like disgust in the social world. Goffman even says stigma is contagious. Stigma is way of casting people out of a group if they possess some attribute that the group values very negatively. You could imagine how this might’ve served a useful purpose in evolutionary terms to exclude individuals who are harmful to the group.

[@tenns001]

can anybody< help me understand the following question: what does it mean to say that our performances can be a source of stigma.

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Goffman used the word performance to mean almost anything you do in the social world. So let’s say that a person is in the habit of getting drunk and passing out at business dinners. They will soon be stigmatized as a drunk. Any objectionable or abnormal social behavior can cause a person’s identity to be discredited. So that’s how performances cause stigma.

[@tenns001]

@@HowCommunicationWorks thank you so much for your reply!!! but I am still struggling with the concept, in my lecture we talked about performances being used to portray to others the identity we want them to think of us and that stigma is an attribute that discredits the performer... but I still can't seem to understand the connection between performance in terms of appearance and manner with stigma

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Goffman says we are all potentially discreditable. That is, there is something about us that, if discovered, would discredit and stigmatize us. So there are many performances that could reveal something about us that would discredit us. And that would lead to us being seen as less than normal in the eyes of other normals.

[@CruzG210]

Hopefully, you'll see this; I need help. What is the best way to discipline a child through stigmatizing means (labeling theory

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

I’m not sure what you mean? I would never recommend intentionally stigmatizing a child.

[@jessicaharmon2509]

Yikes

[@Casper-ob1fm]

Hello Bruce, I really benefit from your videos, may I ask how you would categorize dyslexia? I see it as a type 2 stigma, but it is of course not something people have any choice about? :)

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Casper, I think dyslexia is a disability stigma, like being blind or deaf or in a wheelchair. But it can be invisible, so in that way it differs from other, more visible, disability-related kinds of stigma. The reason people may go to great lengths to hide it is that they sense intuitively that they will pay a social price (in terms of stigma and discrimination) if their dyslexia is revealed. Also, dyslexia illustrates how stigma "spreads" from one kind of disability to another, e.g., people with dyslexia may also be viewed as unintelligent, or disables in other ways as well, just as blind people are often treated as if they also have hearing loss.

[@Casper-ob1fm]

How Communication Works Thank you so much for taking the time to answer me, and I agree completely with the “spreadability” of the stigma. I am working on a Project with dyslexic chilidren and how they, in discourse, reflect upon their stigma. We use transcriptions of conversations with them, it’s hard but rewarding work! Once Again, thanks so much for taking the time😊

[@joesal8337]

Can we apply Goffman's stigma to the former drug users?

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Yes. Recovered addicts are a classic stigmatized group. Goffman even uses them as an example.

[@wiiiiiebke]

Hey, great video! I'm currently writing on my bachelorthesis about identity crisis and the movie Joker (2019), which I am referring to Goffmans Stigma. Could you tell me into which of the three categories he would be sort into? His Stigma is his illness. Thank you and greetings from germany! :)

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Which do you think it is?

[@wiiiiiebke]

@@HowCommunicationWorks I was struggling between category 1 and 2. Maybe "Character Defects"? That's atleast how the rest of the society sees him I would say.

[@zaezae216]

@@HowCommunicationWorks Was the name of the book you mentioned called "Asylums"?

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

@@zaezae216 yes I mention two Goffman books: Stigma and Asylums.

[@chocobomtom]

perfect explanation. I needed this to explain a stigma surrounding porn use. comes in handy

[@jenniferjohansson7799]

Hi, Im writting an essay I find the part about felt and enacted stigma intresting but dont find it in Goffmans book, where did you read that?

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

I can’t remember exactly where I learned that concept, but check out this paper for a discussion: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0277953694903964

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Or this one: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/1467-9566.00316

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

This may be the original citation: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1467-9566.ep11346455

[@nadiaoufhim812]

Hello, Could you please share the book. Thank you in advance

[@nadiaoufhim812]

[e-mail] Here is my email

[@avinashmore2770]

Okay I understand you

[@_Sam_-zh7sw]

its worth appreciating how so many white scholars were able to describe what minorities feel in their everyday life. to have empathy is one thing....but to be able to pen it down in scientific journals is whole different kind of intelligence.

[@afez1986]

Discretable is the persona that you show to the wold.

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Discreditable means you are vulnerable to being discredited but you are not yet actually discredited.

[@sillygirl1139]

Thank you

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

You really like my Goffman videos. Are you a sociologist?

[@sillygirl1139]

@@HowCommunicationWorks no, just an inquiring mind and a personal interest in the topic (I would like to have studied a social science). I recently moved to a new job role too which seems to lend itself well to observing some sociology and communication concepts at work. I'm still learning though but it's always interesting to expand knowledge. I'm hoping it will help me bring more value to my work. I do think your content is very underrated. I try to help the YT algorithm along with a like and a comment.

[@whatwaq]

stigma grindset 💪 💪 💪

[@simppuful]

If human are able to controp their feelings, no temperary meniac mind can protect a crime. theres nothing to claim on, but admit your criminal. dont mix up things.

[@sbdr.1241]

Funny how the city where i live advertising "stigma free" is so opposite of that word.

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

What city describes itself as stigma free?

[@sbdr.1241]

@@HowCommunicationWorks Garfield new jersey

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Interesting. Thanks.

[@sanaehachi870]

Benefit for MCAT.

[@changliu8430]

Hi professor! I'm an Education Studies undergrad from China. I feel so lucky to have found your videos！They are immensely helpful for my studies as well as understanding of human interactions. I found the locations of stigma you talked about similar to the different theories regarding treating children with special educational needs (SENs). "Stigma is inside the individual" is like the "medical model", "stigma is inside the observer" is like "the social model", and "stigma is in the relationship between the attribute and the audience" is similar to what Swain et al. (2013, p. 1) say "disabling barriers [are] faced by people with impairments in their interactions with a physical and social world designed for non-disabled living". And the "world" in this quote echoes the "context" in your presentation. So do you think I can create similar models for all problems that are mostly perceived to be individual yet argued to be socially constructed? Thank you!

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

I don’t think you can draw any simple and sweeping generalizations from Goffman’s observations about stigma. If you think they apply to other concepts, it’s up to you to make the arguments and produce the evidence.

[@mupo1811]

thanks subbed and liked

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

Thank you.

[@chanteln3855]

so a stigma is when someone cannot apologise for a wrongdoing and had no valid reason to do the things he or she did.

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

I’m not sure I see that as stigma. I guess. I see that as just bad behavior.

[@haroldmaio407]

To the idea of "spoiled identity": Who spoiled it?

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

It is spoiled by the person possessing some attribute in the context of some audience that sees that attribute as stigmatizing.

[@haroldmaio407]

@@HowCommunicationWorks If I understand you completely, someone has a spoiled identity because someone says so. What happens then when the person accused of having a spoiled identity rises against it, refuses to change her seat on the bus, or integrates baseball. Did Jews in WWII Germany have a spoiled identity or was it a machination? Harold A Maio

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

@@haroldmaio407 Enacted stigma, or overt discrimination, if often imposed on a weaker minority by a stronger majority. You seem to think I’m endorsing this idea. What I am actually doing is explaining it. What Jews in Nazi Germany experienced was what Goffman called tribal stigma: the stigma of race or religion. So the example you cite is well explained by this way of thinking.

[@haroldmaio407]

I do not believe you are endorsing stigma, you are repeating Goffman.

[@haroldmaio407]

Extrapolating from " I believe there is a stigma" to "Therefore it is so" is a bit of a jump.

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

You should watch the video again. You have not yet understand what I said.

[@haroldmaio407]

Arguing "there is" a stigma concedes power to those proffering the argument. Saying it is so does not make it so. @@HowCommunicationWorks

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

@@haroldmaio407 I still don’t understand your question or objection. Maybe you could time stamp the part of the video you disagree with.

[@haroldmaio407]

My objection is pure reason: Arguing there is a stigma does not equal there is, no matter who the authority behind it is. Were saying it is so equals it is so, then Hitler was right in saying there was a stigma to Jews, and those disagreeing with him were wrong. @@HowCommunicationWorks

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

@@haroldmaio407 You still don't understand. Stigma is a reality. It's dependent on context, and it exists in a relationship between an attribute and an audience, as Goffman says. Nevertheless, stigma is a social fact. Both felt (self-perceived) and enacted (overt discrimination) exist in every social group every studied. It's a way of marking in-group vs. out-group membership. That you may disagree with exclusion or discrimination in some individual case just proves that Goffman is right: stigma exists in the relationship between an attribute and an audience. You are saying some attributes are not stigmatizing. Fine. Just because you don't think so doesn't mean stigma does not exist in that circumstance.

[@aylerayler]

Hmmmmm

[@aionzurvan3136]

Ok ok but you know what Ligma is?

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

No I don’t.

[@simppuful]

she cant help it- that she got stigma

[@aylerayler]

Migraines