Evaluation of psychological explanations for sz

Question 1

Support for family dysfunction?

Answer 1

Read et al reviewed 46 studies of child abuse and Sz and 69% woman with Sz had a history of physical abuse and men 59%

Question 2

How are their weaknesses with studies?

Answer 2

Information about childhood was gathered after the development of the symptoms so recall could have been distorted - validity

Question 3

Weak evidence for family based explanations?

Answer 3

Very little evidence to support SzMother as both are based on looking at early studies of ‘crazy mothers’

Question 4

Strong evidence for dysfunctional information processing?

Answer 4

Stirling compared 30 patients with a diagnosis of Sz and 18 non Sz on a range of cognitive tests - patients took twice as long to name the colours - info processes in Sz mind differently

Question 5

What does the theory not tell us?

Answer 5

Nothing about the origins of Sz

Question 6

Evidence from biology not fully considered?

Answer 6

It could be that both psychological and biological factors can produce the same symptoms