Dysfunctional Families

Question 1

What is the dysfunctional families explanation of schizophrenia?

Answer 1

It suggests that patterns of communication, relationships, and parenting in dysfunctional families contribute to the development or exacerbation of schizophrenia.

Question 2

How do family dynamics influence schizophrenia risk?

Answer 2

Dysfunctional families may create a stressful environment, leading to emotional turmoil and cognitive disorganization in vulnerable individuals.

Question 3

What is the double bind theory?

Answer 3

Proposed by Bateson et al. (1956), it suggests that contradictory messages from parents (e.g., verbal and non-verbal communication) create confusion, leading to withdrawal and psychotic thinking.

Question 4

How does double bind communication affect children?

Answer 4

Repeated exposure to conflicting messages prevents the child from developing a coherent reality, increasing the risk of schizophrenia.

Question 5

What is an example of a double bind situation?

Answer 5

A mother telling her child she loves them while simultaneously acting cold and rejecting.

Question 6

What is expressed emotion (EE)?

Answer 6

A measure of the family environment based on criticism, hostility, and emotional over-involvement. High EE environments are associated with schizophrenia relapse.

Question 7

How does high expressed emotion impact individuals with schizophrenia?

Answer 7

It increases stress, which may exacerbate symptoms or trigger relapse through heightened cortisol levels and impaired coping.

Question 8

What are the three main components of expressed emotion?

Answer 8

Criticism: Negative comments about the individual’s behavior.
Hostility: Rejection or anger toward the individual.
Emotional Over-involvement: Excessive concern or intrusiveness.

Question 9

What is the concept of the schizophrenogenic mother?

Answer 9

Proposed by Fromm-Reichmann (1948), it suggests that a cold, rejecting, and controlling mother creates an environment that fosters schizophrenia.

Question 10

Why is the schizophrenogenic mother theory controversial?

Answer 10

It places blame on mothers without empirical support and has been criticized for being reductionist and unscientific.

Question 11

What evidence supports the double bind theory?

Answer 11

Bateson et al. (1956): Reported that individuals with schizophrenia often recall contradictory communication in their families.
Berger (1965): Found that individuals with schizophrenia reported more double-bind statements from parents than controls.

Question 12

What research supports the role of expressed emotion?

Answer 12

Brown et al. (1972): Found that patients returning to high EE families were more likely to relapse than those in low EE families.
Vaughn and Leff (1976): Identified a relapse rate of 51% in high EE families compared to 13% in low EE families.

Question 13

What evidence challenges the concept of the schizophrenogenic mother?

Answer 13

Lidz et al. (1957): Found no consistent evidence linking maternal behavior to schizophrenia onset, suggesting family dynamics are more complex.
Tienari et al. (2004): Adoptive family studies show that family environment interacts with genetic vulnerability, rather than maternal behavior being solely responsible.

Question 14

What are the strengths of the dysfunctional families explanation?

Answer 14

Highlights the role of the environment in schizophrenia, emphasizing family therapy as a treatment.
Supported by relapse studies showing the influence of family interactions (e.g., high EE).
Provides a framework for understanding non-genetic influences on schizophrenia.

Question 15

How has the dysfunctional families explanation informed treatment?

Answer 15

Family intervention therapies aim to reduce high EE and improve communication, leading to better outcomes for patients.

Question 16

What are the criticisms of the double bind theory?

Answer 16

Lacks empirical evidence—relies on retrospective reports prone to bias.
Does not explain why some individuals exposed to double binds do not develop schizophrenia.
Oversimplifies complex family dynamics.

Question 17

What are the criticisms of expressed emotion (EE)?

Answer 17

High EE may be a reaction to the stress of caring for someone with schizophrenia rather than a cause.
Does not explain the onset of schizophrenia, only relapse.
Focuses on correlation rather than causation.

Question 18

Why is the schizophrenogenic mother theory widely rejected?

Answer 18

Blames mothers without considering other family or social factors.
Lacks empirical support and is seen as overly simplistic and gender-biased.

Question 19

How can reducing expressed emotion improve outcomes for schizophrenia patients?

Answer 19

Family therapy reduces criticism and hostility, creating a supportive environment.
Patients are less likely to relapse when their families understand and manage symptoms more effectively.

Question 20

What role does early intervention play in addressing dysfunctional family environments?

Answer 20

Early identification of high-risk family dynamics allows for preventive measures, such as counseling and education, to reduce schizophrenia onset.

Question 21

How can family dynamics in schizophrenia be studied?

Answer 21

Interviews and observations to assess communication patterns.
Measures of expressed emotion through coding speech during family interactions.
Longitudinal studies tracking family environments and schizophrenia outcomes.

Question 22

What ethical considerations apply to research on dysfunctional families?

Answer 22

Avoiding blame or stigmatization of family members.
Ensuring confidentiality, as family dynamics can be sensitive.
Providing support to participants when discussing distressing experiences.

Question 23

How does the dysfunctional families explanation integrate with biological approaches?

Answer 23

It complements biological vulnerability models by suggesting that stress from dysfunctional families may trigger symptoms in genetically predisposed individuals.

Question 24

How does the social approach overlap with the dysfunctional families explanation?

Answer 24

Both emphasize environmental factors, such as socio-economic status or cultural expectations, which may influence family dynamics and stress levels.