Stigma is traditionally defined as the dehumanization of an individual based on their social identity or participation in a negative or undesirable social category (Goffman, 1963). A person who is stigmatized is considered devalued, unimportant, and flawed in important ways. Knowledge of or experiences with stigma can lead to the internalization of these beliefs for those who identify with a stigmatized group (Ritsher, Otilingam, and Grajales, 2003).
