Erving Goffman and Stigma

Sociologist Erving Goffman pioneered the theory of "social stigma" with his 1963 book Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity. Through case studies and interviews, Goffman aimed to show how individuals manage their social identities when they find themselves disqualified from full social acceptance.

He took the term "stigma" from Ancient Greece: 

"The Greeks, who were apparently strong on visual aids, originated the term 'stigma' to refer to bodily signs designed to expose something unusual and bad about the moral status of the signifier. The signs were cut or burnt into the body and advertised that the bearer was a slave, a criminal, or a traitor- a blemished person, ritually polluted, to be avoided, especially in public places (Goffman, 1963, page 1)." 

Some social stigmata are visual, much like the markings in Ancient Greece. However, many stigmata are invisible, which is often the case in mental illness. This exhibit aims to examine how stigma plays a role in the social understanding of mental illness and neurodivergency. We will explore how various methodologies have been used to establish visible stigmata for mental illness and how these easily identifiable markers partake of a society's ongoing attempt to define what is "normal" and "abnormal."