My Title Slide

My essential Question
(Research is on the next slide).

A study was conducted with 198 participants to determine if and how stigma against criminals could affect quality of life. The article “The Impact of Criminals Recorded Stigma on Quality of Life: A test of Theoretical Pathways”, calls back to Modified Labeling Theory, a theory which states that persons with mental illnesses and such will have a negative label on them and thus be treated as outcasts. The studies done in this article “[are] in accordance with modified labeling theory… (qtd. in Hunter et al., 2017; Luoma et al., 2007; Newheiser & Barreto, 2014), [Perceived] stigma was indirectly related to decreased quality of life through attempts to cope with stigma. Specifically, perceived stigma was associated with an increase in secrecy and a decrease in quality of life” (McWilliams & Hunter 98). Not to be confused with internalized stigma, in which the individual hates themselves because of their record, perceived stigma is when those around the individual have a negative bias against that person. Calling back to Hester Prynne, she may not have been affected as badly as she was, should the stigma around her not existed. Not only dealing with a newborn child and her own depression, she carries the weight of shame given upon her to the public, despite having committed the crime many years ago. Hester Prynne has definitely learned from her mistake, if it was truly her fault in the first place, and does not deserve the punishment she receives. On the contrary, Hester Prynne deserves forgiveness.