The social psychology of COVID-19 stigma

Abstract

The spread of infectious diseases and the associated stigmatisation of people is an evidenced history. The present chapter is an attempt to explain the stigma of race, class and religion in India with the help of the established intergroup theories of social psychology to highlight the psychosocial consequences resulting out of an outbreak of infectious diseases, i.e., COVID-19. In order to present the implicational value of intergroup theories in explaining the practices of COVID-19-generated stigmatisation of people in India on the basis of their belongingness to particular race, class and religion, a systemic review of the COVID-19-generated stigmatisation of people and groups was carried out. Anecdotal presentations of stigmatised treatments against the several social groups in India are explained from the vantage of intergroup theoretical approaches of social psychology. In our review, intergroup theories of social psychology were found instrumental in explaining COVID-19-generated stigmatised treatments directed against people based on race, class and religion. Intergroup Emotions Theory could explain the stigmatisation of Northeast Indians. Scapegoat theory was found instrumental in explaining the stigmatisation of poor and migrants. Stigmatisation against Muslims could be justifiably explained in the light of social identity theory. At last, the chapter attempts to make certain recommendations aimed to reduce or combat negative psychosocial responses to infectious diseases like COVID-19. © 2025 selection and editorial matter, Asma Parveen and Rajesh Verma; individual chapters, the contributors.