What question did this study set out to answer?

To investigate the political, social, and psychological mechanisms driving the assignment of blame and moral culpability during devastating disease outbreaks like AIDS.

June 1, 2020

Placing Blame for Devastating Disease

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To investigate the political, social, and psychological mechanisms driving the assignment of blame and moral culpability during devastating disease outbreaks like AIDS.
Qualitative discourse analysis of Cold War media reports, official statements, and political cartoons concerning the origin and spread of AIDS in 1985–1986.
Comparative historical evaluation examining social responses, moral judgments, and boundary-making in earlier epidemics, including plague, syphilis, and leprosy.
Public and political discourse regularly mobilizes moral scapegoating and conspiracy narratives when scientific and medical authorities cannot provide immediate certainty or curative solutions.
Attributing disease origins to political rivals or marginalized groups serves as a collective coping strategy to reduce perceived vulnerability and establish psychological boundaries of control.

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Implication

Discourse analysis uncovers patterns of blame and stigmatization during epidemics, suggesting that scapegoating serves as a psychological mechanism to regain perceived control over disease.

Cite This Study

Nelkin et al. (2020) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a781178c5ab23c76ced1fe8 https://doi.org/10.1353/sor.2020.0041

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Implication

Discourse analysis uncovers patterns of blame and stigmatization during epidemics, suggesting that scapegoating serves as a psychological mechanism to regain perceived control over disease.

Placing Blame for Devastating Disease

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

Placing Blame for Devastating Disease

Key Points

Discussion

Implication

Cite This Study

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