Labeling Theory and the Attitudes of Mental Patients: A Review

For years, critics and proponents of the labeling theory approach to mental illness have quarreled over society's reactions to the mentally ill. Heretofore, their debate has paid little attention to patients' reactions to labeling. This report reviews 35 studies dealing with (1) hospitalized patients' attitudes toward the label of mental illness and (2) ex-patients' attitudes toward the stigma or effects of hospitalization. Data are interpreted within the context offive propositions derived from labeling theory. None of the propositions met the criteria for acceptance. Labeling theory underestimated the degree to which patients and ex-patients think favorably about mental illness and posthospital experiences. Labeling theory also incorrectly predicted that patients' attitudes would become more unfavorable during hospitalization, as well as after discharge, and would be less favorable than nonpatients' attitudes. However, consistent with the theory, patients were strongly negative toward generalized labels of mental illness. The findings suggest that labeling theory in relation to mental illness needs to be reconsidered.