Stereotypes Of Mental Illness Research Articles

Stereotypes and OCD-Symptom Presentations: A Mixed-Methods Evaluation Using Male-Character Vignettes

Stereotypes toward symptom presentations of obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) are poorly understood. A mixed-methods, multistudy analysis of OCD stigma was conducted. In Study 1 ( N = 60), participants read one of five vignettes (symmetry/just right, contamination, sexual, harm/aggression, scrupulous OCD) before responding to open-ended questions. Inductive content analyses revealed anxiety-relevant stereotypes (e.g., trivialization) for symmetry/just right and contamination and serious mental-illness stereotypes (e.g., dangerous) for harm/aggression and sexual vignettes. In Study 2 ( N = 698), participants read one of seven vignettes (OCD-symptom presentations, generalized anxiety disorder, schizophrenia) before responding to stigma measures. The sexual, harm/aggression, and schizophrenia vignettes were strongly associated with serious mental-illness stigma. The scrupulous vignette was associated with the most anxiety-relevant stigma. Together, these studies detail stereotype endorsement across OCD-symptom presentations. Stigma-reduction interventions should include psychoeducation and address macro-level stereotypes (i.e., stereotypes that exist across symptom presentations) while enhancing opportunities for contact to mitigate stigma.

The racial stereotype about mental illness

ABSTRACT The current research examined the interaction of race and mental illness stereotypes to determine if there is a racial stereotype about mental illness. Study 1 (N = 144) showed that participants predominantly imagined White people when thinking about mental disorders and rated mental disorders as most typical of Whites. Participants in Study 2 (N = 162) rated Whites as best fitting their image of patient in a mental hospital. Study 3 (N = 510) demonstrated that the White racial stereotype of mental illness occurs across races but that it is significantly less common among nonwhites. Participants in Study 4 (N = 279) perceived mental illness as least likely among Asians, followed by Blacks and Whites. The results show that people stereotypically associate mental illness more with Whites than other races. Such a belief could help to explain racial discrepancies in mental health care and the interpretation of problematic behaviors.

Cultural reproduction of mental illness stigma and stereotypes

This study investigates how schemas and stereotypes about individuals with mental illness shape how information is transmitted between people. Mental illnesses are highly stigmatized identities, and prior work illustrates the persistence of mental illness stigma, despite public health efforts aimed at increasing awareness of the biological origins of mental illness (Pescosolido et al., 2010). Recent work has also demonstrated the utility of combining cultural cognition with social psychological theories of cultural meaning to investigate how stereotypes are transmitted through secondhand narratives (Hunzaker 2014, 2016). We connect this social psychological work with medical sociological literature on mental illness stigmas and propose that stereotypes function as cultural schemas that shape the way stories are remembered and retold about individuals with a mental illness. We then conduct a narrative transmission study to test this proposal, using schizophrenia as a case of interest. Consistent with prior work, we find that individuals who retell a story about a person with schizophrenia alter the narrative so that it becomes more consistent with stereotypes about individuals with schizophrenia. We also find that stereotype-inconsistent information is more likely to be transformed to align with culturally shared beliefs about schizophrenia. The findings extend prior work on how bias shapes the reproduction of mental illness stereotypes, and demonstrate how socially learned cultural beliefs can reinforce stereotypes, biases and stigma about mental illness.

T30. PREDICTORS OF INTERNALIZED MENTAL HEALTH STIGMA IN A HELP-SEEKING SAMPLE OF ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS EXPERIENCING EARLY PSYCHOSIS: THE ROLES OF PSYCHOSIS-SPECTRUM SYMPTOMS AND FAMILY FUNCTIONING

BackgroundThe onset of psychosis-spectrum symptoms may be challenging to young people who are developing their identity. Internalized mental health stigma--the internalization of negative mental illness stereotypes (e.g., believing stereotypes to be true and applying them to yourself)--can lead to secrecy, shame, and withdrawal. Family factors can impact individuals who are experiencing early psychosis, but more work is needed to understand the relationship between family factors and stigma. One objective of this study was to examine if there were differences in internalized stigma across diagnostic groups. Another objective of this study was to better understand the predictors of internalized stigma among youth, particularly understudied aspects of youth stigma such as family functioning and specific types of psychosis-spectrum symptoms (e.g., positive symptoms).MethodsParticipants aged 12–25 (N = 68; Mean age = 16.41, SD = 2.88) were recruited from community providers, clinics, hospitals, and schools in Maryland, USA. Participants were classified as meeting criteria for clinical high risk for psychosis (51%), early psychosis (24%), or help-seeking controls (25%). The sample was predominantly White (53%), followed by Black/African-American (19%), Biracial/Multiracial (18%), and Asian (10%). Psychosis-spectrum symptoms and depressive symptoms were measured via the clinician-administered Structured Interview for Psychosis-Risk Syndromes (SIPS) and family functioning (e.g., cohesion, support) was measured via the self-reported Family Assessment Device. Internalized stigma was measured using the self-reported Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness (ISMI) scale. ANOVA was used to test for differences in internalized stigma between high risk, early psychosis, and help-seeking controls. Multiple regression was used to evaluate predictors of internalized stigma.ResultsInitial analyses indicated that there were no significant differences between the three diagnostic groups (F = 1.50, p = .23), but that clinical high risk for psychosis participants had the highest endorsement of internalized stigma (η2 = .05). Regression analyses indicated that unusual thought content/delusional ideas (one type of psychosis-spectrum positive symptom experiences measured by the SIPS), depressive symptoms, and lower family functioning significantly predicted (p < .05) higher internalized stigma, controlling for other psychosis-spectrum positive symptom experiences. These variables explained 26% of the variance in ISMI in the model (F = 4.01, p = .001). Negative, disorganized, and general SIPS items (except depression), as well as age, gender, race/ethnicity, relationship status, family history of psychosis, and income level, were unrelated to ISMI.DiscussionThis is the first study to assess the relationship between family functioning, psychosis-spectrum symptoms, and internalized stigma among youth. Youth endorsement of unusual thought content/delusional ideas, depressed mood, and lower family functioning were associated with more self-reported internalized stigma from mental health concerns. Better understanding the predictors of internalized stigma among youth can lead to more tailored and effective treatment approaches. This study suggests that a particular focus on certain positive symptoms and family functioning may be warranted in the treatment of internalized stigma. Future research is needed to determine the temporal precedence and nature of the impact of these factors on ISMI, in addition to the potential differential impact of family factors by race/ethnicity and culture.

Attitudes toward Mental Illness among Minority Freshmen in China

To explore the status and influencing factors of attitudes toward mental illness among minority freshmen and provide references for mental health education and service assistance in ethnic colleges, a questionnaire survey was conducted among 581 minority freshmen by using Mental Illness Emotional Scale, Stereotype Scale and Social Distance Scale from autumn of 2018 to next spring. The scores of minority freshmen on these scales were significantly higher than the theoretical median, which demonstrated that they did have negative attitudes. There were the significant main effect of nation on the anger and sympathy dimensions of Mental Illness Emotional Scale while the same results were found in the main effect of gender on the danger and suicidal behavior dimensions of Mental Illness Stereotype Scale and the main effect of nation on the dimension of dependence consciousness. Whether relatives or friends are mental illness patients had significant effect on the suicidal behavior dimension of Mental Illness Stereotypes Scale. Overall, attitudes toward mental illness were negative and some mental illness stigma phenomenon were found among minority freshmen; ethnic was an important factor affecting the attitudes of minority freshmen toward mental illness, and the inter-group contact with patients who suffer mental illness in life had a slight impact on the attitudes toward mental illness.

Applying Corrigan's progressive model of self-stigma to people with depression.

BackgroundThe progressive model of self-stigma describes four stages of internalizing stereotypes of mental illness: stereotype awareness, personal agreement, self-concurrence, and harm to self (i.e., self-esteem). Successive stages are postulated to be the most highly related. Endorsement is presumed to decrease by stage. The model has been supported in most but not all elements in various studies. The procedural character has not yet been investigated in one integrative model. The aim of this study was to test the progressive model of self-stigma in three respects: I) successive stages have the strongest associations, II) endorsements decrease with each stage, and III) the procedural character can be represented by one serial mediation model.MethodsA cross-sectional computer-based survey was conducted in two samples of patients with depression; one online sample (NA = 550; only self-report) and one clinical face-to-face sample (NB = 180; screening by treatment staff). The inclusion criteria were, age of 18–70 years, sufficient cognitive abilities and German language skills. IBM SPSS statistics 24 was used for Cronbach’s alphas, descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, and Mann-Whitney-U tests. The PROCESS procedure for SPSS Version 3.00 was used for mediation analyses.ResultsThe results support the progressive model of self-stigma in people with depression in most respects: Endorsements for stereotype awareness were higher than for personal agreement and self-concurrence, and no relevant difference was found between personal agreement and self-concurrence. Successive stages had the strongest associations, with the exception of the association between stereotype awareness and self-esteem, which was higher than the association between stereotype awareness and personal agreement and self-concurrence. The association between stereotype awareness and self-esteem was mediated via personal agreement and self-concurrence.ConclusionThe progressive model of self-stigma offers a theoretical foundation for the process research of self-stigma. Longitudinal research may investigate predictive effects and whether different stages of self-stigma require specific consideration in their prediction, consequences, and potential interventions.

Overthinkers, attention-seekers and wallflowers: peer perceptions of clinical anxiety disorders in adolescence

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate peer perceptions and stereotypes towards adolescents with clinical anxiety disorders.Design/methodology/approachThe study utilised an exploratory qualitative design, using short vignettes to investigate perceptions of three clinical anxiety disorders (panic disorder, generalised anxiety disorder and social anxiety disorder) and a control scenario, situational stress. Responses were analysed using thematic analysis.FindingsThe results of the study suggest that previously established mental illness stereotypes (e.g. fear and dangerousness) may not be relevant to those with anxiety disorders, with perceptions of personal responsibility, weakness and social abnormality salient instead. These results suggest that stigma interventions should be tailored to disorder and age group.Practical implicationsPerceptions of weakness and blame have been associated with higher levels of discrimination, meaning people with anxiety disorders may be particularly vulnerable. Similarly, the negative social perceptions may be particularly damaging in adolescence, when successful peer relationships are vitally important. The results suggest specific stereotypes to target in stigma reduction campaigns for anxiety disorders, which may not being addressed by existing interventions.Originality/valueThere is a significant lack of research on both adolescent mental illness stigma in general, and anxiety stigma specifically. This study aimed to begin to address that gap, and found results that suggest, in line with previous work, that perceptions of blame may be more common for anxiety disorders, with negative social perceptions also reflecting the unique importance of peer relationships for adolescents. Further research should explore these stereotypes in more detail.

On Dignity and Psychiatry.

On Dignity and Psychiatry.

Stigma Resistance in Stable Schizophrenia: The Relative Contributions of Stereotype Endorsement, Self-Reflection, Self-Esteem, and Coping Styles.

Stigma resistance (SR) has recently emerged as a prominent aspect of research on recovery from schizophrenia, partly because studies have suggested that the development of stigma-resisting beliefs may help individuals lead a fulfilling life and recover from their mental illness. The present study assessed the relationship between personal SR ability and prediction variables such as self-stigma, self-esteem, self-reflection, coping styles, and psychotic symptomatology. We performed an exploratory cross-sectional study of 170 community-dwelling patients with schizophrenia. Self-stigma, self-esteem, self-reflection, coping skills, and SR were assessed through self-report. Psychotic symptom severity was rated by the interviewers. Factors showing significant association in univariate analyses were included in a stepwise backward regression model. Stepwise regressions revealed that acceptance of stereotypes of mental illness, self-esteem, self-reflection, and only 2 adaptive coping strategies (positive reinterpretation and religious coping) were significant predictors of SR. The prediction model accounted for 27.1% of the variance in the SR subscale score in our sample. Greater reflective capacity, greater self-esteem, greater preferences for positive reinterpretation and religious coping, and fewer endorsements of the stereotypes of mental illness may be key factors that relate to higher levels of SR. These factors are potentially modifiable in tailored interventions, and such modification may produce considerable improvements in the SR of the investigated population. This study has implications for psychosocial rehabilitation and emerging views of recovery from mental illness.

Finding the Identity as a New Zealand Writer: Janet Frame’s An Angel at My Table.

The purpose of this paper is to examine one of the most pervasive and persistent stereotypes of mental illness; the mad genius, which assumes a close and necessary connection between artistic or intellectual achievement and psychological dysfunction and the process of finding the identity as a writer in An Angel at My Table, by Janet Frame. Janet Frame is portrayed as a creative, imaginative young woman growing up in New Zealand in the 1930s and 1940s who, struggling to find her place in the world and traumatized by the early deaths of two sisters, retreats from reality into her poetic imagination. This recovery can be possible when she confronts her painful past and transform it to consistent narratives. However, as she seeks refuge from the social expectations that frighten or oppress her, her increasingly antisocial behaviour becomes the object of medical inquiry and social censure. An Angel at My Table demonstrates the instability of classifications of psychiatric disorder, when Janet's diagnosis of schizophrenia is later found to be false. Finally, she realizes that the place which she has to write in is the South Island’s place in New Zealand. Frame deliberately dismantles notions of a fixed identity and begins to write as a national New Zealand writer.

Graphic Depictions: Portrayals of Mental Illness in Video Games.

Although studies have examined portrayals of mental illness in the mass media, little attention has been paid to such portrayals in video games. In this descriptive study, the fifty highest-selling video games in each year from 2011 to 2013 were surveyed through application of search terms to the Wikia search engine, with subsequent review of relevant footage on YouTube. Depiction categories were then assigned based on the extent of portrayal and qualitative characteristics compared against mental illness stereotypes in cinema. Twenty-three of the 96 surveyed games depicted at least one character with mental illness. Forty-two characters were identified as portraying mental illness, with most characters classified under a "homicidal maniac" stereotype, although many characters did not clearly reflect cinema stereotypes and were subcategorized based on the shared traits. Video games contain frequent and varied portrayals of mental illness, with depictions most commonly linking mental illness to dangerous and violent behaviors.

Public perceptions of mental health professionals: stigma by association?

Background: Existing research has identified the phenomenon of associative stigma, but has not robustly illustrated that any stigmatisation of mental health professionals (MHPs) stems from association with clients.Aim: To examine whether public perceptions of MHPs mirror ideas about service users.Method: A mixed-methods approach incorporated statistical analysis of questionnaire results and thematic analysis of focus group transcripts. A convenience sample (N = 260) completed the questionnaire, rating “typical” target professionals (some treating specified mental health conditions) on semantic differential scales. Three focus groups (N = 15) triangulated questionnaire findings.Results: Mirroring mental illness stereotypes, questionnaire participants rated counsellors and psychiatrists as more eccentric and unpredictable than GPs. Professionals specialising in treating substance abuse and schizophrenia were rated as less empathetic, agreeable, predictable and conventional than those treating depression, reflecting differing representations of these conditions. Specialists in depression and schizophrenia were rated as more withdrawn than those treating substance abuse. Focus group participants postulated that mental health problems may cause or result from mental health employment.Conclusion: MHPs seem stigmatised by association with clients. Future research should elucidate the origins of stigma to safeguard professionals’ and clients’ well-being.

Stakeholder Perspectives on the Stigma of Suicide Attempt Survivors.

Past scholarly efforts to describe and measure the stigma surrounding suicide have largely viewed suicide stigma from the perspective of the general public. In the spirit of community-based participatory research (CBPR), the current study brought together a diverse stakeholder team to qualitatively investigate the suicide stigma as experienced by those most intimately affected by suicide. Seven focus groups (n = 62) were conducted with suicide attempt survivors, family members of those who died by suicide, and suicide loss therapists. Themes were derived for stereotypes (n = 30), prejudice (n = 3), and discrimination (n = 4). People who attempted suicide were seen as attention-seeking, selfish, incompetent, emotionally weak, and immoral. Participants described personal experiences of prejudice and discrimination, including those with health professionals. Participants experienced public stigma, self-stigma, and label avoidance. Analyses reveal that the stigma of suicide shares similarities with stereotypes of mental illness, but also includes some important differences. Attempt survivors may be subject to double stigma, which impedes recovery and access to care.

Eating disorder public service announcements

Purpose – Previous studies have documented that exposure to stereotypical information about certain social groups leads to unfavorable perceptions and feelings toward that group. Integrating insights from the mental illness stigma and the social identity perspective literatures, the purpose of this paper is to explore the effects of eating disorder public service announcements (ED PSAs) that employ stigma formats through the lenses of the stereotype content model (SCM) and the Behaviors from Intergroup Affect and Stereotypes (BIAS) Map. Design/methodology/approach – The study followed an experimental control group design. Participants were exposed to either a stigmatizing or a non-stigmatizing PSA. Findings – Exposure to the stigmatizing PSA resulted in lower perceptions of warmth and competence being attributed to people who have an ED which further predicted greater feelings of contempt toward these individuals. The stigmatizing PSA also directly predicted greater feelings of contempt. Practical implications – The findings suggest that using stereotypes about EDs in PSAs aimed at preventing such diseases may elicit perceptions of low warmth and competence, further associated with increased feelings of contempt toward people who have an ED in healthy individuals. Social implications – The stereotyping effects of PSAs may reduce the social and emotional support that people with EDs receive and may exacerbate their emotional distress. Originality/value – From a theoretical point of view, these results extend the understanding of mental illness stereotypes from an intergroup, SCM and BIAS Map perspective as it applies to EDs. More importantly, this study draws attention to possible unintended consequences of PSAs, a matter that is rarely researched, but that can have severe implications.

IN PRINCIPLE YES, IN APPLICATION, NO; RWANDAN NURSES’ SUPPORT FOR INTERGRATION OF MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

Mental ill-health contributes significantly to the global burden of disease as the fourth leading cause of global disability. To reduce this burden, by aiming at reduction of the treatment gap, the World Health Organisation recommended integration of mental health care into general health care structures, and deinstitutionalization coupled with community re-integration. Given the distribution of mental health professionals in Sub Sahara Africa the implementation of such integration is largely the work of nurses, specifically non mental health specialist nurses. Previous African studies report nurses difficulties with this integration; lack of preparation, knowledge, expertise, and time. Mental illness stigma is suggested to underscore a large portion of these difficulties. This quantitative study used a cross sectional survey approach to gather mental illness stigma related data from nurses (N=104, n=102) working within in a district hospital in Rwanda. A self-report questionnaire included person variables (age, gender, nursing experience, nursing qualification and category of nurse) and two scales; Level of Contact Scale (LOC), and Community Attitudes towards Mental Illness Scale - Swedish version (CAMI-S).Results support previous research regarding the type and extent of mental illness stereotypes, and mediating effects of familiarity. Significant associations between mental illness stereotypes and; younger and the less experienced nurses were also reported. However, the extent of contradiction within participant responses on the CAMI-S, across all demographics variables, suggests significant tension between nurses desire to subscribe to a nursing and national ideology of non-discrimination, a cherished value within the Rwandan context, and their fears associated with their stereotypical beliefs. In addition to the continued use of contact within health care worker training programs and clinical placements it is recommended that supportive interventions be implemented that are narrative in nature and facilitate the resolution of tension between ‘what I should believe’ and ‘what I do believe’.Key words: mental illness stereotypes, community based care, nurse, Rwanda

The effect of mortality salience on death penalty sentencing decisions when the defendant is severely mentally ill

PurposeMortality is a salient factor during capital sentencing. The purpose of this paper is to examine the role death plays in jurors’ decisions when sentencing a severely mentally ill defendant who is subject to possible discrimination in a capital trial because of that status.Design/methodology/approachThe current experiment measured venire jurors’ (n=133) mental illness dangerousness beliefs, and then experimentally manipulated type of mortality salience (dual-focused: participants who contemplated their own mortality and were exposed to trial-related death references vs trial focused: only exposed to death references) and the type of defendant (severely mentally ill vs neutral) accused of a capital offense.FindingsMock jurors perceived mental illness to be an important mitigating factor when dual (i.e. self) focused mortality (DFM) salience was induced, whereas participants only exposed to trial-related death references considered mental illness to be an aggravating factor in sentencing and were more likely to evidence stereotype adherence toward the defendant.Practical implicationsThe implications of the authors’ findings are problematic for the current legal system. During the majority of capital sentencing, jurors will only be exposed to trial-related death references, as individuals in the trial-focused mortality condition were. The findings suggest that these jurors are likely to engage in discriminatory stereotypes that do not consider fair process when making sentencing decisions. This research also suggests that mortality salience may be able to increase jurors’ attention to such concerns in a trial scenario even when negative mental illness stereotypes are present.Originality/valueResearch builds on existing terror management theory and offers a more nuanced perspective of how focusing on one’s own death can affect jurors’ reliance on stereotypes and lead to inappropriate decisions. Mortality salience can lead to decisions based upon procedural fairness when stereotypes and mortality salience are both present.

An exploratory analysis of students’ perceptions of mental health in the media

ABSTRACTDespite the prevalence of mental illness in society, the media’s portrayal of mental health fosters stigmatizing attitudes that inhibit many people from seeking treatment. This study surveyed college students enrolled in social work courses (n = 139) to learn about the relationship between mental health knowledge students gleaned from the media, their perception of media portrayals of mental illness as realistic, and the subsequent impact on student attitudes. Analysis of the data found that almost a quarter of the students surveyed reported television and film as their primary source of education about mental illness. Students who received their primary mental health education from television and film were more likely to believe they were seeing realistic portrayals of mental illness and view portrayed stereotypes of mental illness as acceptable. Implications regarding students’ stigmatizing attitudes and students’ identification of persons with mental illness are discussed.

Stigma related to labels and symptoms in individuals at clinical high-risk for psychosis

BackgroundDespite advances that the psychosis "clinical high-risk" (CHR) identification offers, risk of stigma exists. Awareness of and agreement with stereotypes has not yet been evaluated in CHR individuals. Furthermore, the relative stigma associated with symptoms, as opposed to the label of risk, is not known, which is critical because CHR identification may reduce symptom-related stigma. MethodsThirty-eight CHR subjects were ascertained using standard measures from the Center of Prevention and Evaluation/New York State Psychiatric Institute/ Columbia University. Labeling-related measures adapted to the CHR group included "stereotype awareness and self-stigma" ("Stereotype awareness", "Stereotype Agreement", "Negative emotions [shame]"), and a parallel measure of "Negative emotions (shame)" for symptoms. These measures were examined in relation to symptoms of anxiety and depression, adjusting for core CHR symptoms (e.g. attenuated psychotic symptoms). ResultsCHR participants endorsed awareness of mental illness stereotypes, but largely did not themselves agree with these stereotypes. Furthermore, CHR participants described more stigma associated with symptoms than they did with the risk-label itself. Shame related to symptoms was associated with depression, while shame related to the risk-label was associated with anxiety. ConclusionBoth stigma of the risk-label and of symptoms contribute to the experience of CHR individuals. Stereotype awareness was relatively high and labeling-related shame was associated with increased anxiety. Yet limited agreement with stereotypes indicated that labeling-related stigma had not fully permeated self-conceptions. Furthermore, symptom-related stigma appeared more salient overall and was linked with increased depression, suggesting that alleviating symptom-related shame via treating symptoms might provide major benefit.

What is the impact of self-stigma? Loss of self-respect and the “why try” effect

Background: The “Why Try” phenomenon, a consequence of self-stigma, is a sense of futility that occurs when people believe they are unworthy or incapable of achieving personal goals because they apply the stereotypes of mental illness to themselves.Aims: This study examines a four-stage model of self-stigma (aware, agree, apply, and self-stigma harm) and examines the “why try” effect as a result. We do that by testing a measure of “why try.”Method: Two hypothetical path models were tested. In the first, applying stereotypes to oneself leads to diminished self-respect and a sense of “why try”. In the second, the effect of applying stereotypes on “why try” is mediated by diminished self-respect. Participants completed the “why try” measure along with measures of self-stigma, public stigma, recovery, and empowerment.Results: Results show application of stereotypes to oneself predicts diminished self-respect and “why try”. “Why try” was significantly associated with agreement with public stigma, depression, and diminished sense of personal recovery.Conclusions: Findings from this study reveal the complex impact of self-stigma demonstrating its emotional and behavioral consequences. Implications for impacting self-stigma are discussed.

Racial and mental illness stereotypes and discrimination: an identity-based analysis of the Virginia Tech and Columbine shootings.

The Virginia Tech and Columbine High shootings are 2 of the deadliest school massacres in the United States. The present study investigates in a nationally representative sample how White Americans' causal attributions of these shooting moderate their attitudes toward the shooter's race. White Americans shown a vignette based on the Virginia Tech shooting were more likely to espouse negative beliefs about Korean American men and distance themselves from this group the more they believed that the shooter's race caused the shooting. Among those who were shown a vignette based on the Columbine High shooting, believing that mental illness caused the shooting was associated with weaker negative beliefs about White American men. White Americans in a third condition who were given the Virginia Tech vignette and prompted to subtype the shooter according to his race were less likely to possess negative beliefs about Korean American men the more they believed that mental illness caused the shooting. There was no evidence for the ultimate attribution error. Theoretical accounts based on the stereotype and in-group-out-group bias literature are presented. The current findings have important implications for media depictions of minority group behavior and intergroup relations.