The culturally approved coping response to stigma can damage physical health
Evidence
Directly consistent with Allport’s views, many minority groups in the United States endorse hard work and determination as a means of overcoming their minority status (Kleugal & Smith, 1986). This value is reflected in the African American community in the legendary story of John Henry, a nineteenth-century steel driver, who beat a machine in a steel-driving competition only to drop dead of exhaustion. A dispositional preference to work harder to achieve success and advancement, despite sometimes overwhelming obstacles, has been called “john-henryism” ( James, Hartnett, & Kalsbeek, 1983). Research linking john-henryism to hypertension among African Americans suggests that adopting this coping strategy may be physically harmful, even though it may indeed be the coping strategy most approved of in society ( James, Hartnett, & Kalsbeek, 1983). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 965 (
#corroborates, via linked claim)
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: The culturally approved coping strategy of extra striving can carry physical health costs; The most socially approved coping strategy against prejudice carries physical health costs; Working harder against stigma can physically harm the striver (+4 more)
Broader Connections
- The approved minority coping strategy of hard striving can be physically harmful via hypertension
#corroborates(0.99) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 965 - Working harder against stigma can physically harm the striver
#corroborates(0.97)