Consensus versus Disagreement in Disease-Related Stigma: A Comparison of Reactions to Aids and Cancer Patients

Abstract

Theories about disease-related stigma may be classified in two categories: the behavioral model, which compares diseases or statuses of different types, assumes that stigmas arise from the actions of the stigmatized, and predicts consensus among observers; and the cultural conflict model, which compares the symbolic attitudes of observers, defines stigmas as social constructions, and expects disagreements in reactions. I employ a factorial survey to contrast these models. In a sample of university students (N = 600), respondents were presented with descriptions of individuals with AIDS, cancer, or “no disease.” Gender role attitudes were also included as a measure of symbolic attitudes. Many of the results follow the culture conflict model in which interactions between gender role attitudes and type of disease affect the level of stigma. However, other results lend support to the behavioral model, because the respondents' gender role attitudes do not explain differences in responses based on disease type.