ABSTRACT
This chapter considers stigma, including negative labelling and perceptions. It examines the orthodox view that stigma is associated with the incidence of comparatively rare violence perpetrated by people with schizophrenia. This includes evidence that individuals with schizophrenia have increased risk for perpetrating harm when compared with others. Focusing on criminal records, the chapter argues, can underestimate the prevalence of aggressive behaviour in schizophrenia, and the burden of caring/coping with it by family and professionals. The negative impact of high-profile acts of violence on public perceptions of schizophrenia is considered. The chapter recognises the rarity of this including homicide perpetrated by people with schizophrenia, but also the impact on families and friends of victims. Also considered is a dissenting view which attributes stigma towards schizophrenia to orthodox psychiatry. To justify this criticism, biopsychosocial psychiatry is misrepresented as exclusively biological. In this context, the chapter looks at critics’ mistrust of the marketing and research of certain drug companies. A further criticism discussed is that biogenetic causal beliefs are associated with negative attitudes to schizophrenia, and psychosocial beliefs with positive attitudes. It is suggested that this view relates to weak research evidence and a polarised presentation of biological and social choices in studies.
