Life with a serious mental disorder such as schizophrenia and others, usually never falls within the bounds of what might be considered "easy". Lengthy treatment regiments, intensive medications, and sometimes debilitating symptoms are just a few headlines in the long list of difficulties that befall those diagnosed with a serious mental disorder. Despite all this, they must then face society and its extraordinary ability to stigmatize and isolate these people. While it is certainly nothing new to this group of individuals, the stigma has shifted and changed shape to conform to current societal standards and what is “normal.” Is mainstream society's distancing from the mentally ill due to ignorance on their (society's) part or perhaps fear of what is different? Much of the research on stigma and mental illness found today in the field of sociology is centered around two major theories, Goffman in 1963 and Scheff in 1966 (Corrigan et. al). This latter “labeling theory” states that when a person's behaviors are labeled as part of a mental illness, they trigger more negative stereotypes in public perception. That is, if someone with a particular mental illness acts, say violently, the audience will associate that behavior as part of that pattern of mental illness. Goffman similarly notes that those who are considered “normal” believe that those who have been stigmatized are “not normal,” going so far as to consider them almost non-human. This leads so-called normal society to discriminate against those suffering from mental illnesses by showing reluctance to help those people or even refusing to hire them for work (Corrigan et. al). By putting up a wall of fear towards what they don't know or understand, the 'nor... middle of paper... rehabilitation and their overall well-being. Works Cited Corrigan, Patrick W, Amy C. Watson, Amy C. Warpinski, and Gabriela Gracia. 2004. Implications of educating the public about mental illness, violence, and stigma. Psychiatric services. (55): 577-580 Corrigan, Patrick, Fred E. Markowitz, Amy Watson, David Rowan, and Mary Ann Kubiak. 2003. An attribution model of public discrimination against people with mental illnesses. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. (44): 162-179Wright, Eric R., Dustin E. Wright, Brea L. Perry, and Carrie E. Foote-Ardah. 2007. Stigma and sexual isolation of people with serious mental illnesses. Social problems. (54): 78-98Wright, Eric R., William P. Gronfein, and Timothy J. Owens. 2000. Deinstitutionalization, social rejection, and the self-esteem of former mental patients. Journal of Health and Social Behavior. (41): 68-90