Overcoming Stigma: Credit for Self-Improvement or Discredit for Needing to Improve?

Abstract

In Experiment 1, subjects rated the likelihood that an individual would follow up socially with each of two persons, one of whom had overcome a stigma by his or her own efforts. Persons with a history of stigma who were currently as desirable as the comparison person were subject to the same social deficit as if they were less desirable; only if persons with a history of stigma were currently more desirable than the comparison person were they equally preferred as dates. A second experiment indicated that the "once flawed" effect applies to objects as well as to persons. A third experiment that broke down positive evaluation into the two dimensions of respect/admiration and "wanting to be with" found that people admire those who have overcome a stigma by their own efforts but would rather be with those who never had a stigma.

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