Understanding Internalized Stigma
As Foucault puts it, the panopticon is a versatile mechanism of power that organizes and controls individuals within a given space. It functions as a model of surveillance that imposes discipline by ensuring that individuals feel constantly observed, whether or not they are actually being watched. Traditionally, this concept has been applied to man-made structures, such as schools, hospitals, and, most famously, prisons. More recently, individuals began to look into the idea of an internalized panopticon, which is a concept that describes how people internalize the idea that they are being watched and then police themselves in order to conform to societal norms.
Scholars have begun to apply this concept to stigma a negative label characterized by one or more personal traits that form a stereotype about the individual. One of the most stigmatized human experiences is mental illness, which can be described as abnormal thoughts, behaviors, emotions, to actions that are a threat to the individual or society. Mental illness has been stigmatized for years, affecting individuals for their entire lifetime.
When combining the concept of an internalized panopticon with the stigma surrounding mental illness, the concept of the mental illness panopticon is born. The mental illness panopticon illustrates how individuals with a mental disorder, refers collectively to all mental disorders, which includes anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and more. These are described as sustained patterns of abnormal thinking, mood, and/or behaviors, internalize societal stigma, perpetuating a self-surveillance system akin to Foucault’s panopticon, wherein the fear of judgment leads to self-policing behaviors, shame, and isolation. This phenomenon not only hinders treatment-seeking and recovery but also underscores the broader societal issue of defining mental illness through culturally subjective norms, revealing how power and stigma operate to maintain social control and marginalize the abnormal.
Understanding The Mental Illness Panopticon
The societal understanding of mental illness is deeply influenced by intersecting factors such as gender norms, stigma, race, and socioeconomic status, revealing that definitions of abnormal or deviant behavior are subjective and culturally constructed, which fosters internalized stigma and shapes how individuals seek treatment and navigate their struggles.
Approximately 23.1 percent of the population of the United States, equating to 59.3 million individuals, have a mental disease. Although widespread, societal pressures including gender standards, stigma, racism, socioeconomic status, and cultural expectations frequently compel individuals to conceal their difficulties. This impacts essential facets of life, such as the propensity to pursue treatment, incarceration rates, and societal attitudes about mental illness.
These trends illustrate how societal factors alter the perception of what is deemed abnormal or deviant, a notion that fluctuates across cultural and national boundaries.
Internalized Stigma and the Panopticon
Stigma, especially regarding mental health, corresponds with Foucault’s notion of the Panopticon as an instrument of social regulation. Stigma operates as a disciplinary mechanism by labeling persons who diverge from socially acceptable norms — such as those with mental health conditions — as objects of shame and disgrace. This stigmatization functions structurally, maintaining social order via public judgment and the expectation of conformance. By internalizing these norms, individuals contribute to what Foucault refers to as a “carceral society,” wherein stigma is employed to regulate conduct and uphold societal expectations. Institutions like as hospitals, schools, and workplaces serve as venues for disciplinary authority, where individuals deviating from the norm are rectified through mechanisms that tacitly or explicitly induce feelings of inadequacy or marginalization. These systems strengthen Foucault’s concept of discipline, which asserts that individuals must experience shame or guilt for their perceived violations to maintain social order.
Mental health self-stigma exemplifies the Panopticon’s internalization of surveillance. When individuals adopt society’s negative beliefs about mental illness, they begin to monitor themselves, feeling as though they are constantly judged, even in the absence of external observation. This mirrors the experience of a prisoner in a Panopticon, who, believing they are always under watch, adjusts their behavior accordingly. Similarly, those experiencing self-stigma may isolate themselves, avoid seeking help, or feel a pervasive sense of shame, all stemming from an internalized gaze that aligns with societal expectations. This self-imposed scrutiny demonstrates how power structures operate not only through external discipline but also through individuals’ internalization of societal norms, perpetuating feelings of inadequacy and furthering social control.
Effects on the Individual and Conclusions
Mental health self-stigma, exacerbated by the “panopticon effect,” profoundly influences individuals in the short term by compelling them to incessantly scrutinize and evaluate their own mental health activities. This establishes a self-imposed monitoring mechanism wherein individuals perceive themselves as perpetually monitored and evaluated, even in the absence of external scrutiny. Self-monitoring engenders emotions of shame, isolation, and an aversion to seeking assistance, all of which impede the rehabilitation process. The immediate result is a cycle of detrimental self-image and evasion that hinders persons from obtaining essential help and care.
The enduring consequences of self-stigma on individuals with mental illness are significant and extensive. Internalizing negative stereotypes can diminish self-esteem, leading individuals to perceive themselves as intrinsically faulty. Self-stigma hinders recovery, especially for individuals with severe mental illnesses, by establishing psychological obstacles that complicate the healing process. Over time, self-stigma exacerbates psychiatric symptoms, including despair, hopelessness, and anxiety. It may also result in social isolation, hindering the formation and maintenance of relationships, and restricting access to chances in employment, education, and housing. Moreover, self-stigma frequently leads to self-sabotaging behaviors, as individuals internalize anticipated failure, hence reinforcing cycles of underachievement and marginalization.
The “mental illness panopticon” exemplifies the internalization of cultural stigma, engendering a self-surveillance system that sustains shame, isolation, and obstacles to rehabilitation. This occurrence highlights the widespread impact of cultural norms and power dynamics on perceptions of mental illness and illustrates the critical necessity to eradicate stigma to enhance results for those impacted.
Podvorec is a guest blogger at UITAC Publishing. UITAC’s mission is to provide high-quality, affordable, and socially responsible online course materials.
Images used in this blog:
- “Tekening van de architect J. Metzelaar die een doorsnede geeft van het interieur van de cellulaire gevangenis te Breda, ofwel De Koepel, ca. 1883” by J. Metzelaar, located in Stadsarchief Breda and licensed on Rijksvastgoedbedrijf Ministerie van Volkshuisvesting en Ruimtelijke Ordening. This image has not been altered.
- “Person Covering Her Head with Her Sweater” by cottonbro studio and licensed on Pexels. This image has not been altered.
- “Kid Sitting Alone While Other Children Play Together” Photo by Mikhail Nilov licensed on Pexels. This image has not been altered.
