Gang He

This paper employs the primacy effect theory to analyze the generative mechanism of the "monster's" tragic fate in Frankenstein, integrating the cognitive dissonance theory and stigma theory to explore how appearance-based prejudice triggers group exclusion and individual psychological distortion through "cognitive violence." Under the primacy effect, the "monster" elicits negative first impressions from humans due to its grotesque appearance, encountering systematic exclusion such as abandonment by its creator Victor, attacks from villagers, and expulsion by the De Lacey family (Shelley, 2014). Its kind deeds are misinterpreted due to cognitive dissonance and fail to reverse the prejudice (Yan & Li, 2015). Based on stigma theory, the "monster's" appearance is defined as a "discrediting characteristic," which, after being negated by Victor's diary and reinforced by social labeling, ultimately leads to stigma internalization. The "monster" shifts from "yearning for integration" to revenge and finally self-immolates at the end of its vendetta (Goffman, 1963/1986; Guo, 2015). Through the logical chain of "primacy effect triggering prejudice → cognitive dissonance reinforcing exclusion → stigmatization fostering cognitive violence," this paper deepens the understanding of the novel's themes of "social exclusion" and "cognitive violence," providing insights for reflecting on the harms of "labeled cognition" in reality and constructing an inclusive cognitive system.

Frankenstein; Primacy Effect; Cognitive Dissonance; Stigma Theory

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