Body Size, Illness, and Blame: Causal Attributions and Social Consequences

• In Event: 447 - Section on Social Psychology Roundtable Session (co-sponsored with Section on Sociology of Emotions)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 02. Altruism

Abstract

This research examines the effect of body size on the assignment of blame and responsibility for illness and explores the social consequences of these causal attributions. In this study I ask whether overweight and obese individuals are seen as more responsible for illness than their thinner counterparts and whether this higher level of blame leads to more negative social outcomes. Drawing on theories of stigma, stereotypes, and attributional processes I predict that observers will use negative stereotypes to attribute greater responsibility for illness to overweight and obese patients.

Using an experimental design, I find that study participants attribute significantly more control, responsibility, and blame for illness to a patient when she is moderately obese compared to when she is normal weight. These differences are significant for both lifestyle and non-lifestyle associated diseases. Second, I find that observers are less sympathetic, less willing to offer help, and prefer more social distance when evaluating a moderately obese patient compared to when evaluating a non-obese patient. Attributions of blame, control, and responsibility partially mediate these differences suggesting that biased assessments of blame and causality have additional negative social consequences for overweight and obese persons. Differences by race and gender are currently being explored. These findings have important implications for understanding and addressing persisting health inequalities. When stigmatized individuals are seen as more responsible for negative outcomes and accrue additional social penalties, this leads to the accumulation of disadvantage. Understanding the social psychological processes behind health inequalities can help improve outcomes for all patients.

Author

• Karen Marie Powroznik, Stanford University