Evaluation of Schizophrenia - Genetic Explanations

Question 1

+ Gottesman and Shields

Answer 1

Gottesman and Shields used a sample of 61 patients who were either MZ or DZ twins and found on average that, for MZ twins, if one twin had SZ then 42% of the time the other twin did. The DZ average was 17% - Supports genetic predisposition of SZ, validating the theory

Question 2

+ Sullivan et al.

Answer 2

Sullivan et al. conducted a meta-analysis of twin studies and found a figure of 81% heritability - meta analysis is highly reliable, validating findings of theories into genetic cause of SZ, suggesting a significant cause in genetics in developing SZ

Question 3

• No control for environment

Answer 3

Twin and family studies fail to control for environmental influences - negates environmental influences, making explanation reductionist

Question 4

• Biologically reductionist

Answer 4

Genetic explanations of SZ are biologically reductionist - too simplistic, leading to inaccuracies in how we view and understand the disorder