family dysfunction explanation Flashcards
What does the family dysfunction explanation suggest about schizophrenia?
The family dysfunction explanation suggests that abnormal family communication patterns and relationships can contribute to the development or relapse of schizophrenia.
What is the concept of the schizophrenogenic mother?
The schizophrenogenic mother is a concept introduced by Fromm-Reichmann (1948) describing a mother who is cold, domineering, and rejecting, creating a tense and conflict-ridden family environment.
What type of family environment does the schizophrenogenic mother create?
The schizophrenogenic mother creates a tense and conflict-ridden family environment, often marked by emotional distance and control.
How does the schizophrenogenic mother contribute to the development of schizophrenia?
The schizophrenogenic mother instills feelings of paranoia, fear, and insecurity in the child, which may lead to the development of positive symptoms like paranoia and delusions.
How does the father contribute to the family dysfunction explanation?
The father is often described as passive, failing to intervene and provide emotional support, which increases the child’s vulnerability to developing schizophrenia.
What symptoms may develop in a child with a schizophrenogenic mother?
The child may develop positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as paranoia and delusions, as a result of the emotional distance and controlling nature of the mother.
What is the double-bind theory?
The double-bind theory, proposed by Bateson, suggests that schizophrenia can arise from repeated exposure to contradictory messages from caregivers.
What happens in a double-bind situation?
In a double-bind situation, a child receives conflicting verbal and non-verbal cues, often placing them in a no-win scenario.
Can you give an example of double-bind communication?
An example of double-bind communication is when a mother says ‘I love you’ while acting cold or hostile, creating inconsistency and confusion for the child.
What impact does prolonged exposure to double-bind communication have on a child?
Prolonged exposure to double-bind communication may lead to disorganized thinking, paranoia, and delusions.
What is the expressed emotion (EE) theory?
The expressed emotion (EE) theory focuses on the emotional climate within the family, particularly involving criticism, hostility, and emotional over-involvement.
What is the impact of high EE on individuals with schizophrenia?
High EE families display intense negative emotions, which can overwhelm and stress individuals with schizophrenia, increasing their positive symptoms like hallucinations and delusions.
What symptoms are linked to high EE in families?
High EE is linked to an increase in positive symptoms of schizophrenia, such as hallucinations and delusions.
What is alpha bias in the context of the schizophrenogenic mother theory?
Alpha bias occurs when differences between genders are exaggerated, and in this context, it results in unfairly placing blame on mothers for the development of schizophrenia.
How does the schizophrenogenic mother theory demonstrate alpha bias?
The theory places undue blame on mothers, reinforcing negative stereotypes about women as the primary cause of family dysfunction and overlooking the role of fathers or broader family dynamics.
What negative stereotypes are reinforced by the schizophrenogenic mother theory?
The theory reinforces negative stereotypes about women, portraying them as the primary cause of family dysfunction and the development of schizophrenia in their children.
How does the alpha bias in the schizophrenogenic mother theory impact mothers?
By focusing on maternal behaviour, the theory can cause emotional distress for mothers, who may already be coping with the challenges of having a child with schizophrenia.
Why is the alpha bias in the schizophrenogenic mother theory problematic?
The alpha bias is problematic because it shifts attention away from more effective treatments and support systems, unfairly blaming mothers and overlooking the complexity of the disorder.
What research supports the double-bind theory?
Berger (1965) found that individuals with schizophrenia reported higher exposure to double-bind communication during childhood compared to non-schizophrenic individuals.
What limitation is associated with the research on double-bind theory?
A limitation is recall bias, as individuals with schizophrenia may misremember or distort their childhood experiences, which weakens the reliability of the evidence.
Why does recall bias weaken the evidence for the double-bind theory?
Recall bias weakens the evidence because individuals with schizophrenia may not accurately remember or may distort their experiences, making the findings less reliable.
What is a limitation of family dysfunction theories regarding cultural relevance?
Family dysfunction theories often fail to account for the cultural variability in family structures and communication styles.
Why may the family dysfunction model be less universally applicable?
What is considered dysfunctional or high in expressed emotion may differ significantly across cultures, limiting the model’s relevance across different societies.
How does cultural variability affect the family dysfunction model?
In some cultures, strong emotional involvement or critical communication may be the norm, but this does not necessarily lead to higher rates of schizophrenia.
