Interactionist Approach Flashcards
1
Q
interactionist approach
A
- acknowledges that there are biological, psychological + societal factors in the development of SZ
- bio factors = genetic vulnerability + neurochemical
- psychological = stress from resulting life events
2
Q
the diathesis stress model
A
- diathesis = vulnerability
- stress = negative psychological experiences
- model states that both a vulnerability to SZ + stress-trigger are necessary in order to develop the condition
- many genes increase genetic vulnerability, not one single gene
- early trauma e.g. childhood abuse affects brain development = makes the person more vulnerable to stress
- e.g. anything that risks triggering SZ e.g. cannabis –> interferes w/ dopamine system
- although most people don’t take cannabis but develop SZ
= clearly other stressors
3
Q
treatment according to the interactionist model
A
- interactionist approach = compatible with biological + psychological treatments
= combining w/ medication + CBTp
4
Q
disads of interactionist approach
A
- incomplete understanding
- too simple
- treatment-causation fallacy
5
Q
ads of interactionist approach
A
- research support
- combination of treatments
6
Q
research support - ads of interactionist approach
A
- there is evidence for the role of vulnerability + triggers
- research support through Tienari’s study on children adopted away from SZ mothers
- adopted parents’ parenting style was compared to a control group w/ no genetic risk
= a child-rearing style w/ high levels of criticism, conflict + low levels of empathy = lead to the risk of developing SZ BUT only for children w/ high genetic risk
= shows very strong direct support for the interactionist approach
7
Q
combination of treatments - ads of interactionist approach
A
- there is support for the effectiveness of combination of treatments
- study where 315 patients were randomly allocated to 3 groups:
- group 1 = medication + CBT group
- group 2 = a medication + support counselling group
- group 3 = a control group
= found that groups 1 and 2 showed lower symptoms than in control group
= shows that there is a clear practical advantage to adopting the interactionist approach in the form of a superior treatment for SZ
8
Q
too simple - disads of interactionist approach
A
- original diathesis stress model = too simple
- multiple genes increase vulnerability, there is no schizogene
- stress comes in many forces including bio factors
e.g. found childhood sexual trauma = diathesis + cannabis = trigger
= shows that the old idea of diathesis as biological + stress as psych = overly simple
9
Q
incomplete understanding - disads of interactionist approach
A
- we don’t exactly know how diathesis stress works
- we don’t understand the mechanisms by which symptoms of SZ appear
- or how both vulnerability + stress produce them
= we have an incomplete understanding of the actual medication
e.g. no vulnerability + no stressors = develop SZ
e.g. have vulnerability + have stressors = don’t develop SZ
= comes down to individual differences?
10
Q
treatment-causation fallacy - disads of interactionist approach
A
- further limitation = treatment-causation fallacy (false)
- psych argued that the combination of bio + psych therapies are more effective than either on their own
= doesn’t mean the interactionist approach to Z is biological in its origin