Stigma is a process by which the reaction of the others spoils normal identity.
Society provides us with a range of roles and identities that are considered "normal".
The roles-identity we enact in public is defined for us by society.
But the self- identity we have in private when we are not subject to public scrutiny, is who we actually are, our"essential" self.
When there is a major discrepancy between our public identity and our private self, and when performance of oue role identity is unconvincing, we are liable to be labelled negatively