Thesis: When people are labeled, their identities are frequently understood in a limited and perhaps even biased way. This essay makes the case that labels, while occasionally useful in explaining social interactions, often serve to perpetuate stereotypes and impede personal development, which has an adverse effect on one’s sense of self-worth and mental health.
Arguments: first ，studies on stigma by Link and identity management by Goffman show that labels reinforce discrimination and preconceptions. Second, labels can hinder personal growth. This was shown by the BMC psychiatry research, which showed how a mental health diagnosis might obscure other facets of an individual’s personality. Lastly, Kramer’s study indicates that labels can result in poor self-perceptions and social marginalization. Labels have a substantial emotional influence on self-worth and mental health.
Conclusion: Although labels can occasionally aid in understanding and navigating social relationships, they frequently restrict people to specific stereotypes, obstruct personal development, and have a detrimental effect on mental health. Therefore, in order to fully appreciate the intricacy of personal identity, it is crucial to go beyond labels.
Hyperlinks：
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/322650310_How_is_agile_development_currently_being_used_in_regulated_embedded_domains
- https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-017-1389-9