Stigma, like mistrust, also seems to be an important determinant of willingness to participate among Hispanics and less educated Blacks. Mental illness, a constellation of emotions, cognitions and behaviors technically labeled as ‘deviant’, is associated with the concept of stigma, which includes negative labeling and characterization from dominant groups in the societal hierarchy, negative emotional reactions from others, social distancing, loss of societal esteem, and discrimination against the sufferer (Link and Phelan, 2001; Link et al., 2004). According to the attribution theory of genetics, (Weiner et al., 1988), the belief that a disorder or trait is etiologically genetic may lead to the destigmatization of that disorder/trait through reduction of personal blame or responsibility, and increased empathy and caring toward the sufferer and kin. The genetic essentialist theory in contrast (Alper and Beckwith, 1993), predicts that believing in genetic causes would indirectly lead to increased stigma through the perceptions of heightened familial risk, gravity and intractability of the disorder/trait, and genetic determinism.
