Media Treatment of Mental Health

Media Treatment of Mental Health By: Ryan Furness The around common boss by the media is that mental illness sufferers are dangerous individuals. They escape the ability to control their behavior and are unpredictable, violent and aggressive. The inclination of a psychotic murderer or maniac is everyday (Byrne, 2000). Mental illness sufferers are often stereotyped as humorous approach patterns. This is commonly found in film and television. mentally ill characters are often used as funniness material and created for viewers to jape at rather than laugh with (Byrne, 2000). There is a tendency for family to apply the beneficence stigma to mental illness sufferers. This involves stereotyping them as pathetic, naive and puerile characters whose lives need to be managed by a parental figure (Corrigan & Watson, 2004). They may also be stereotyped as being inadequate in character and lacking in common sense and initiative. They are sometimes stereotyped as being weak-willed and incompetent, and therefore responsible for their condition (Corrigan & Watson). nigh other stereotypes label the mentally ill as lazy, double-dealing and self-centered individuals with an abnormally high sex drive (Byrne).

It is non uncommon for society to stereotype the mentally ill as unintelligent individuals who cannot hold down a job or contribute to society, and instead are a burden to society (Arboleda-Florez, 2003). Why the stereotypes exist According to Hayward and Bright (1997), there are quaternity likely explanations of why the mental illness stereotype exists. The most direct reason is the idea of dangerousness, that is, people are horror-stricken of mentally ill individuals because they perceive them as inclined to aim violent acts (Hayward & Bright). The second reason is the idea of ascription of responsibility. Members of society tend to perceive individuals with mental illness to be more responsible for their conditions than, for instance, AIDS patients or war veterans. The general public also... If you want to get a full essay, devote it on our website: Orderessay

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