Honor and the Stigma of Mental Healthcare

Abstract

Most prior research on cultures of honor has focused on interpersonal aggression. The present studies examined the novel hypothesis that honor-culture ideology enhances the stigmatization of mental health needs and inhibits the use of mental health services. Study 1 demonstrated that people who strongly endorsed honor-related beliefs and values were especially concerned that seeking help for mental health needs would indicate personal weakness and would harm their reputations. Studies 2 and 3 showed that honor states in the U.S. South and West invested less in mental healthcare resources, compared with non-honor states in the North (Study 2), and that parents living in honor states were less likely than parents in non-honor states to use mental health services on behalf of their children (Study 3). Together, these studies reveal an overlooked consequence of honor ideology for psychological well-being at the individual, social, and institutional levels.

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Hostile Cognitions, and Aggression in Iraq/Afghanistan Era Veterans

“…Research has observed high rates of violence in subcultures with strong culturally-sanctioned beliefs related to “honor” and “respect”. Such “honor cultures” have been documented among Caucasians in the American South (Brown, Imura, & Mayeux, 2014), and a similar construct has been described among highly disenfranchised youth in inner city African-American neighborhoods (Anderson, 1999). In communities with high rates of violence, failure to respond aggressively to provocation or “disrespect” may invite further victimization and thus retaliation is seen as a means of reducing future threat (Stewart & Simons, 2010).…”

How criminal organisations exert secret power over communities: An intracultural appropriation theory of cultural values and norms

“…Men must instead acquire a tough reputation, demonstrating their ability to respond to insults and to use violence to defend their property, 'their' women and their family (Barnes, Brown, & Osterman, 2012;Barnes, Brown, & Tamborski, 2012;Brown, Imura & Mayeux, 2014;Brown, Osterman, & Barnes, 2009).…”

Addressing Stigma Relating to Mental Illness in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

“…There are many barriers in LMICs in the implementation of successful anti-stigma programs: these include low rates of psychiatric help seeking (that may be influenced by common cultural beliefs about traditional medicine), domestic violence, gender dynamics (i.e., “Machismo” or “Culture of Honor” within certain cultural groups) (27), lack of political prioritization of mental health care, low financial investment on health, and material poverty and social marginalization (10). …”