genetic explanation

Question 1

what are some strengths of the genetic explanation?

Answer 1

1. one strength is that there is a lot of supporting evidence
   - Gottesman found that there is a strong relationship between the degree of genetic similarity and shared risk of schizophrenia
   - Tienari - higher concordance rates between biological children and parents even if they grew up in adoptive families
   - must be a genetic predisposition to having schizophrenia
   - one application of our understanding of the role of genes in sz is genetic counselling
   - if one or more parents have a relative with sz, they risk having a child who could go on to develop the condition
   - useful as genetic counselling can help inform potential parents of choices about whether to have children who risk having a poor quality of life if they develop sz

Question 1

what are some weaknesses of the genetic explanation?

Answer 1

2. one limitation is that the genetic/biological explanation ignore environmental factors
   - psychological risk factors like childhood trauma can increase likelihood of having schizophrenia
   - existence of the diathesis-stress model - must be an environmental trigger as well
   - genetic factors cannot provide a complete explanation for schizophrenia