Date of Award

2012

Degree Type

Thesis

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Slane, Stephen

Subject Headings

Stigma (Social psychology), Mental illness, Schizophrenia, stigma, mental illness, education, knowledge, anxiety, schizophrenia

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to show a link between lack of knowledge about mental illness and stigmatizing attitudes towards those with mental illnesses. The first hypothesis, that stigma would be correlated with a lack of knowledge about mental illnesses was confirmed. The majority of results indicate that more knowledge about mental illness in general or about anxiety and/or schizophrenia is associated with less stigmatizing or negative attitudes. Some results didn't support the first hypothesis and these results show that some negative or stigmatizing responses were associated with more estimated knowledge about schizophrenia and/or anxiety.The second hypothesis was that 1) participants who have high levels of confidence in their knowledge about mental illnesses would possess less knowledge about them and 2) that high confidence would be linked to resistance to learning more about mental illnesses. Results show that participants who report less overall knowledge of mental illnesses also report less confidence in their knowledge and vice versa. Results also indicate that participants who report more confidence in their general knowledge of mental illness also report more confidence in their knowledge about anxiety. Some results did show that more negative or stigmatizing responses were associated with more estimated knowledge about schizophrenia

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