The University of Westminster

VOL. CCTV. . . . No. 785 LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 26, 2012

Established 1908
2.50

Schizophrenia: The Facts

People with Schizophrenia: A Danger to Society?

How Prejudice Might be Reduced

-Various theories as to neurological causes, no definite answers. Biological theories such as Dopamine hypothesis widely accepted although social constructionists criticise such explanations (Frangou, 2008) -Positive Symptoms: hallucinations, delusions, echolalia. Negative symptoms: social withdrawal, flat affect, anhedonia -Approx. 80% of patients recover after first episode, 10% never recover, 80% relapse within 5 years (Frangou, 2008) -Four major stereotypes: Unable to follow social roles; Difficult to treat; Personally responsible for their situation; Dangerous and should not be part of general society (Hayward & Bright, 1997)

How and why is the danger stereotype perpetuated?

A 2007 study showed the number hours of TV watched per week is directly correlated to perception of schizophrenics as dangerous (Olafsdottir, 2007) In the media, a mentally disordered person is 10 times more likely to be a criminal. However in the real world, violence is better predicted by other factors such as age (youth), gender (men), income and historical factors (such as juvenile detention, abuse, parental convictions). Thus a person with a severe mental illness without substance abuse or history of violence has the same chance of being violent as any other human, however sociocultural factors make us believe otherwise. People in the media have a choice they could create thoughtful stories that encourage a meaningful discourse on mental illness. Of course, most people make the easy decision, to write sensationalist stories that lack context, because it brings in the ratings, regardless of implications. Sean Geoghan, Barday Sanford, Hubert Greliak and Fiona Malpass contributed reporting.

The term schizophrenia is heavily stigmatised (Sugiura et al., 2001; Kingdon et al., 2008), the labelling as such has been found to increase the likelihood that someone suffering from schizophrenia will be considered as being unpredictable and dangerous. This leads to an increase of a preference for social distance (Angermeyer & Matschinger, 2005). Research that has investigated the effects of using alternative labels found that relabeling actually helped reduce negative associations and biases (Takahashi et al., 2009). Media itself can be used to promote a more realistic portrayal of those who suffer from schizophrenia. Research using a documentary demonstrated a change in benign attitudes, but The Mechanisms of Prejudice not in general attitudes such as perceived dangerousness or Psychomedia - the combined effect of desire for social contact (Penn et al., 2003). Videos and biased media which stereotype people lectures have also been shown to improve knowledge, with leading to the implied conclusion that all video seemingly having a greater corrective effect (Owen, those who are labeled mentally-ill are 2007). Such studies demonstrate that an accurate media violent and deranged. The media portrays depiction of people with schizophrenia can reduce stigma and depraved and demented movie characters aid change of prejudicial attitudes, however is not enough to as accurate depictions of people with eradicate perceived dangerousness. schizophrenia. When an article about Informing and educating people about schizophrenia can also people with schizophrenia is reported in help reduce stigma and prejudice about those with a mental the news, the media frequently generates illness (Holmes, Corrigan, Williams, Conor, & Kubiak, 1999). an angle linking the story to violence. being told facts about Why prejudice against Notably, crime and violence rates of Examples include the 1999 New York Daily people with schizophrenia is those with schizophrenia News front page headline, Get the Violent reduces the stereotype of Crazies Off Our Streets and a 2011 This Is perpetuated, and how we perceived dangerousness Staffordshire headline: Paranoid schizophrenic might reduce it. (Penn et al., 1994). Research has chokes his elderly mum. There are a number of shown that the most effective way of reducing stigma around surreptitious tactics that the media employ in mental illness is through direct personal contact with a person order to implicitly further perpetuate stereotypes suffering from a mental illness (Penn et al., 1994; about people with schizophrenia. These include: Anagnostopoulos & Hantzi, 2011). Such methods should be Prejudicial language; Widespread belief; Intentional exclusion; Misleading generalizations implemented alongside other mediums, including change in the ethics of the media, to convey a positive message of and Emotional appeal people with schizophrenia to counteract modern societys (MentalHealthStigma.com, 2009) unacceptable status quo.

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