Bridging Levels in Stigma Management: Empirical Insights From China’s Chengguan

Current scholarship lacks an integrated analysis of multi-level governance in stigma management within the public sector, notably in law enforcement. Using China’s chengguan as a case study, this research develops a framework integrating individual, managerial, and organizational levels, with particular attention to strategic convergence and divergence. Grounded in the conventional categories of disengagement (e.g. avoidance) and engagement (e.g. confrontation) approaches, semi-structured interviews reveal that disengagement strategies dominate at the individual level. Engagement strategies, particularly reframing, boundary management, and emotion regulation, are applied across multiple levels, with distinct adaptations aligned to each level’s specific roles. Key divergences emerge in information management, whereas refocusing and cooptation remain confined to the managerial and organizational levels, respectively. More significantly, the study identifies previously unexplored adjustment approaches (e.g. behavioral adjustments) to address stigma at its source. The study contributes a multi-level perspective to stigma management theory and offers practical implications for law enforcement agencies globally.