Family dysfunction Flashcards
Recap: what is the main assumption of the psychodynamic approach?
- Behaviour is a result of unresolved conflicts in the unconscious mind.
- It states that we are not consciously aware of the reasons why we behave the way we do, but if we explore our childhood experiences we can get a better understanding of what motivates us.
The Psychodynamic explanation of SZ: Family dysfunction
- This explanation states that growing up in a disturbed family is at the root of mental disorders like SZ.
- The psychodynamic theory suggests that SZ appears in families who display unhealthy relationships and dysfunctional patterns of communication.
- This leads to stress and then to symptoms of SZ.
How does family dysfunction lead to symptoms of SZ?
In a dysfunctional family the parents:
- Display high levels of personal conflict (arguments)= Family schism.
- Have difficulty communicating with each other.
- Are excessively critical and controlling.
What is the double bind theory?
Bateson (1956):
- Children receive confusing, and sometimes contradictory messages from their parents with respect to love and praise. A verbal message is given but the opposite behaviour is displayed.
- This leaves the child feeling like they cannot do the right thing, they feel confused, lacking in confidence and so they withdraw socially.
- Affective flattening, disorganised thinking and paranoia are all then displayed.
What is expressed emotion?
- Another feature of the theory of family dysfunction is expressed emotion. Families who persistently show criticism and hostility have a negative impact on individuals who already have SZ.
- Emotional over-involvement is also an example of high EE. Shifting alliances within the household are linked to paranoia.
High EE > Stress > Relapse.
Evaluate the role of family dysfunction in SZ: Bateson
Bateson reported a case study where a recovering SZ was visited in hospital by his mother.
- He embraced her warmly, but she stiffened, and when he withdrew his arms she said:
“Don’t you love me anymore?”
- To which he blushed and she commented:
‘Dear, you must not be so easily embarrassed and afraid of your feelings’.
- She then left.
- He then assaulted a nurse and had to be restrained.
- This gives support to the idea of double bind.
Evaluate the role of family dysfunction in SZ: Berger, Liem, Hall & Levin
Research prior to the 1970’s supported the view that SZ was most commonly found in dysfunctional families.
- Berger found that SZ reported a higher recall of double-bind statements by their mothers than non- SZ.
However….
- Liem found no difference in patterns of parental communication between families with and without SZ children.
- Hall & Levin were also unsupportive of a link between communication issues and SZ.
Evaluate the role of family dysfunction in SZ: Patino
Patino established seven problems associated with family dysfunction, including:
1. Poor relationship between adults in the household.
2. Lack of warmth between parent and child.
3. Parental overprotection.
4. Child abuse.
- They found that migrants who had experienced at least 3 of these problems had 4x the normal level of vulnerability to developing SZ, compared with the double level of risk for migrants not experiencing family dysfunction.
- This suggests that family dysfunction increases the likelihood of life stressors triggering the onset of SZ.
Evaluate the role of family dysfunction in SZ: Brown + Kavanagh
- Brown showed that patients with SZ were more likely to relapse if they returned to homes characterised by high levels of EE (hostility, resentment, criticism or over concern) than to homes with low EE.
- Kavanagh reviewed 26 studies of expressed emotion, finding that the mean relapse rate for SZ who returned to live with high EE families was 48% compared to 21% for those returning to low EE families.
- This supports the idea that EE increases the risk of relapse for recovering SZ.
