Final answer:
The minority stress model suggests that minority groups experience unique stressors due to discrimination, which can lead to poor mental and physical health outcomes, like depression and cardiovascular disease. A minority group is characterized by differential and unequal treatment, and Asian Americans are often labeled as the 'model minority.'
Step-by-step explanation:
The minority stress model suggests that minority groups face unique stressors due to discrimination, such as prejudice and differential treatment, which can negatively affect physical and mental health. These stressors arise from their marginalized social status and the discrimination they encounter, which is conceived as an uncontrollable, persistent, and often unpredictable source of stress. Furthermore, the model indicates that experiencing discrimination can trigger an acute stress response and, when chronic, can lead to a state of heightened reactivity and eventually worsen health outcomes, exemplified by conditions such as depression and cardiovascular disease.
The defining feature of a minority group, as per Sociologist Louis Wirth, is that because of their physical or cultural characteristics, they are singled out for differential and unequal treatment and thus see themselves as victims of collective discrimination. Minority groups are often subordinate in societies where the dominant group holds power. As for the "model minority," this term is often associated with Asian Americans, who are perceived to achieve a higher degree of socioeconomic success than the general population, despite being a minority group.