The social psychology of COVID-19 stigma

Title

The social psychology of COVID-19 stigma

Creator

Bhanot D.; Verma S.K.; Sharad S.; Bharti B.K.; Singh T.; Mittal S.; Tushir B.

Description

The spread of infectious diseases and the associated stigmatisation of people is an evidenced history. The present chapter is an attempt to explain the stigma of race, class and religion in India with the help of the established intergroup theories of social psychology to highlight the psychosocial consequences resulting out of an outbreak of infectious diseases, i.e., COVID-19. In order to present the implicational value of intergroup theories in explaining the practices of COVID-19-generated stigmatisation of people in India on the basis of their belongingness to particular race, class and religion, a systemic review of the COVID-19-generated stigmatisation of people and groups was carried out. Anecdotal presentations of stigmatised treatments against the several social groups in India are explained from the vantage of intergroup theoretical approaches of social psychology. In our review, intergroup theories of social psychology were found instrumental in explaining COVID-19-generated stigmatised treatments directed against people based on race, class and religion. Intergroup Emotions Theory could explain the stigmatisation of Northeast Indians. Scapegoat theory was found instrumental in explaining the stigmatisation of poor and migrants. Stigmatisation against Muslims could be justifiably explained in the light of social identity theory. At last, the chapter attempts to make certain recommendations aimed to reduce or combat negative psychosocial responses to infectious diseases like COVID-19. 2025 selection and editorial matter, Asma Parveen and Rajesh Verma; individual chapters, the contributors.

Source

Mental, Emotional and Behavioural Needs of the General Population Following COVID-19 in India: Findings from Qualitative and Quantitative Studies, pp. 114-134.

Date

2024-01-01

Publisher

Taylor and Francis

Coverage

Bhanot D., Department of Applied Psychology, Ramanujan College, University of Delhi, India; Verma S.K., Vivekananda College, Delhi University, India; Sharad S., Vivekananda College, University of Delhi, India; Bharti B.K., Vivekanand College, University of Delhi, India; Singh T., University of Allahabad, India, Banaras Hindu University, India, National Academy of Psychology (NAOP), International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP), India; Mittal S., School of Liberal Arts, Bennett University, India; Tushir B., Christ University, Delhi-NCR, India

Rights

Restricted Access

Relation

ISBN: 978-104017605-4; 978-103274842-9

Format

Online

Language

English

Type

Book chapter

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003471189-7

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85208337370&doi=10.4324%2f9781003471189-7&partnerID=40&md5=6f254bd5c5f010740b3d3a18f561f39d