Stigma is the social process by which a trait, identity, diagnosis, or experience is marked as undesirable or discrediting. Sociologist Erving Goffman described this as the creation of a “spoiled identity,” where one aspect of a person becomes so socially devalued that it overshadows the rest of who they are. The identity itself isn’t damaged. It’s “spoiled” through social meaning, power, and exclusion.

In neurodivergent and mental health contexts, stigma often shows up as moral judgment, fear, pity, lowered expectations, or pressure to mask. Over time, these messages can become internalized stigma, shaping self-talk, self-worth, and leading people to push past their capacity rather than seek support.

De-stigmatizing neurodevelopmental conditions like autism and ADHD supports positive identity integration. De-stigmatizing mental health conditions reduces shame and increases access to care. This is different from de-pathologizing, which reframes an experience as not an illness or pathology. A condition can remain a legitimate focus of care while also being de-stigmatized.

Reducing stigma doesn’t require minimizing distress or denying disability. It means allowing people to name suffering, seek help, and still be seen as whole.