The Effect of Stereotype-Consistency and Intersectional Norms on Labeling

This project uses theories of norms and stereotype consistency to inform how laypersons attribute deviant behavior to mental illness. In particular, we consider how the race/ethnicity and gender of the person exhibiting the behavior changes the extent to which it is perceived as non-normative/stereotype-inconsistent and thereby labeled as mental illness. First, we use a series of pretests to establish the perceived non-normativity of deviant behavior. Second, we use a survey-experiment to examine the likelihood that deviant behavior that is stereotype-consistent/inconsistent will be attributed to mental illness vs. another cause.