Exculpation and Stigma in Tourette Syndrome

Jo Bervoets,Kristien Hens,Jarl K Kampen

doi:10.1007/s12152-022-09486-y

Jo Bervoets, Kristien Hens + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1007/s12152-022-09486-y

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Abstract

PurposeThere is a widespread recognition that biomedical explanations offer benefits to those diagnosed with a mental disorder. Recent research points out that such explanations may nevertheless have stigmatizing effects. In this study, this ‘mixed blessing’ [2] account of biomedical explanations is investigated in a case of philosophical interest: Tourette Syndrome.MethodWe conducted a vignette survey with 221 participants in which we first assessed quantitative attributions of blame as well as the desire for social distance for behavior associated with Tourette Syndrome.ResultsIn our study, it is confirmed that in the case of biomedical explanations, less blame is attributed than in the case of psychosocial explanations. When presented with a mixed (or an epigenetic) explanation stressing an entanglement of biological and psychosocial factors this did not increase blame attribution. The desire for social distance is unaffected by the type of explanation but the participants’ free text feedback indicates this might obfuscate an underlying dilemma between stigma and blame revealed in recent research.ConclusionThere seems to be potential for blame reduction in explanations where biological and psychosocial factors are entangled. However, dynamic, ‘epigenetic’, explanations require further qualitative research to be performed as well as a philosophical framework to account for the ‘mixed blessings’ account.

Highlights

Biological accounts of psychopathology have been positively received
The desire for social distance is unaffected by the type of explanation but the participants’ free text feedback indicates this might obfuscate an underlying dilemma between stigma and blame revealed in recent research
The mean and the 95% CI on psychological explanation of behavior by participants were consistently higher for higher blame attribution

Summary

Introduction

Biological accounts of psychopathology have been positively received. Attribution theory, a leading theory in social psychology [1], predicts that the less responsibility one attributes to an agent, the less they will be blamed and with this, the less stigma is attached to their condition. They connect biomedical accounts to an increase in. Tourette Syndrome is a case in point of the link between neurobiological explanations and a decrease in blame attribution. The DSM-5 [5] describes the diagnostic criteria of Tourette Syndrome as follows: multiple motor tics and at least one phonic tic, with an onset before 18 years of age. Common examples of motor tics include eye-blinking and head-nodding; examples of phonic tics include sniffing or throat-scraping. Both the frequency and type of tics vary with environmental factors which are induced by, at least, stress, different everyday activities and spaces with related sensory load [6].

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