How mental illness is portrayed in children's television

Abstract

Young viewers are being socialized into stigmatizing conceptions of mental illness.

Mental Illness in Disney Animated Films

“…These references were commonly employed to segregate, alienate, and denote the inferior status of the character(s) to which they referred-a finding consistent with the overwhelmingly negative portrayal of mental illness found in adult media (6)(7)(8). For example, in Beauty and the Beast, the townspeople frequently refer to the intellectuals Belle and her father, Maurice as mentally ill.…”

“…T he effect on adults of the media's portrayal of mental illness and persons with mental illness has been extensively researched (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6). The portrayals have been found to be overwhelmingly negative (5,7,8) and have been associated with adults' possessing negative attitudes and behaviours regarding mental illness and persons with a mental illness (2,4,5).…”

“…Thus, children may learn labels referring to those with a mental illness (such as "crazy" or "nutty as a fruitcake"), potentially acquiring the negative connotations and stereotypes associated with such labels (for example, inferiority or dangerousness). It has been suggested that adults' stereotypical beliefs about mental illness may have originally been acquired through media exposure in childhood (6,23,24). Second, early exposure to characters stereotypically depicted as mentally ill could cause the vicarious induction of fear and anxiety in young viewers, resulting in unconscious social distancing from these individuals (6,11,12).…”

“…It has been suggested that adults' stereotypical beliefs about mental illness may have originally been acquired through media exposure in childhood (6,23,24). Second, early exposure to characters stereotypically depicted as mentally ill could cause the vicarious induction of fear and anxiety in young viewers, resulting in unconscious social distancing from these individuals (6,11,12). Third, research has consistently demonstrated negative consequences associated with adults' stereotypical beliefs about mental illness and persons with a mental illness-for example, research showing stigmatization and discrimination against those with a mental illness (9,11,12) and public policy regarding mental health (25).…”

Mental illness at work: An assessment of co‐worker reactions

“…For example, in a study of over 100 magazine articles concerning obsessive-compulsive disorder, this illness was depicted inaccurately in over twothirds of the cases (Wahl, 2000). Other studies have repeatedly found that people with mental illness are inaccurately portrayed in television roles in North America (Diefenbach, 1997), Britain (Rose, 1998), and New Zealand (Wilson, Nairn, Coverdale, & Panapa, 2000). This research illustrates that the media's, and thus the public's, depiction of individuals with mental illness is often inaccurate (Sieff).…”