Can 'justified disapproval' be separated from addiction stigma? An empirical focus is required
Journal article
Morris, J., Kummetat, J. and Schomerus, G. (2024). Can 'justified disapproval' be separated from addiction stigma? An empirical focus is required. Addiction Research & Theory. https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2024.2394424
Authors | Morris, J., Kummetat, J. and Schomerus, G. |
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Abstract | Stigma is largely recognized as a harmful practice of social devaluation and discrimination, yet some scholars still advance arguments that stigma also serves an important disincentivizing force towards addictive behaviours. Whilst others counter that stigma is a fundamentally harmful process, a more nuanced call has been made for “justified disapproval” as a beneficial normative force to be separated from addiction stigma. The legitimacy of such a claim requires empirical support which has been lacking thus far. We review evidence in the domains of social norms, stigma, addiction and behavioural sciences as a starting point for an empirically focused evaluation of the possibility of “justified disapproval” as a legitimate positive force. We note that whilst normative influences, emotions and addiction-relevant appraisals affect such behaviours under certain conditions, there are important questions regarding whether these can be harnessed without invoking the known and pervasive effects of stigma. Rather, we propose that efforts to curb addiction-related behaviours via normative influences are likely to fail or backfire. In the absence of empirical evidence to support the use of normative ‘disapproval’ strategies, alternative approaches should be pursued, particularly those which address the broader socio-cultural and structural drivers of addiction problems. |
Keywords | addiction, stigma, substance use |
Year | 2024 |
Journal | Addiction Research & Theory |
Publisher | Taylor & Francis |
ISSN | 1606-6359 |
1476-7392 | |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2024.2394424 |
Web address (URL) | https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/NDGSVI2WNW667RWNIJGH/full?target=10.1080/16066359.2024.2394424#abstract |
Publication dates | |
Online | 22 Aug 2024 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 16 Aug 2024 |
Deposited | 23 Aug 2024 |
Accepted author manuscript | License File Access Level Open |
https://openresearch.lsbu.ac.uk/item/97yzq
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Accepted author manuscript
Can justified disapproval be separated from addiction stigma 3rd revisions ART CLEAN.docx | ||
License: CC BY 4.0 | ||
File access level: Open |
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