Interactionist Approach

Question 1

A01

The interactionist approach

Answer 1

Acknowledges that there are biological, psychological & societal factors in the development of SZ
biological factors include- genetic vulnerability & neurochemical & neurological abnormality
psycholgical factors -stress resulting from live events & poor quality interactions in fam

-diathesis =vulnerability.

-stress in this context is a negative psychological experience.

–says that both a vulnerability to schizophrenia and a stress-trigger are necessary for the condition to develop.

Question 2

A01

explain the interactionist approach-diathesis stress model

based on a holistic approach to explaining & treating sz

Answer 2

• the diathesis stress model assumes that sz does not stem from one main source but is instead a combination & interaction of biological, psychological & social factors
  model suggests that a p may have a vulnerability to develop sz which is triggered by a stressful event or situation
• The diathesis-stress model states that both a vulnerability to SZ and a stress trigger are necessary to develop the condition.

Question 3

A01

Outlline Meehl’s model in original diathesis stress model

Diathestis means vulnerability

Answer 3

-in the original model ,diathesis was entirely genetic and the result of a single schizogene.

-this led to the development of a biologically based schizotypic personality.One characteristic is sensitive to stress.

Meehl said that if a person doesn’t have the schizogene then no amount of stress would lead to schizophrenia.

However, if someone had the gene, then chronic stress through childhood and adolescence, as a result of having a ‘schizophrenogenic mother’, would trigger the gene and result in schizophrenia.

Question 4

A01

Outline the modern understanding of diathesis

Answer 4

-It is now believed that many genes increase genetic vulnerability and that there is no single schizogene.

-include a range of factors beyond genes such as psychological trauma-so trauma becomes the diathesis rather than the stressor.

-Read et al proposed a neurodevelopmental model which early trauma affects the developing brain e.g the HPA system can become overactive,making the person much more vulnerable to later stress.

HPA-hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal system

Question 5

A01

Outline modern understanding of stress

Answer 5

in the original model stress was seen as psychological in nature e.g parenting.

-the modern definition includes anything that risks triggering schizophrenia(Houston et al).

-recent research has shown cannabis use can trigger an episode of SZ as it is seen as a stressor as it interferes with the dopamine system,and increases the risk of schizophrenia by up to seven times.However most people do not develop schizophrenia after smoking cannabis so there may be one or more vulnerability factors.

Question 6

A03

weakness of DSM-does noy acklowledge other biological factors

Answer 6

criticised for not acknowledging the role of other biological factors such as the role of neurotransmitters in development of sz -thus offers partial explnation , there is vagueness over how biological, psychological & social factors interact according to model means it lacks objectivity -not scientific or relaible

Question 7

A03

Research support -Tienari

Strength

Answer 7

Tienari studied the biological children of SZ mothers who had been adopted, found 5.8% of children adopted into psycholgically healthy families developed sz compared to 36.8% of children raised in dysfunctional families-this research supporst influence of biological factors due to high rates even in psychologicaloly healthy families, but even higher figure for dysfunctional families suggests psychological trigger is needed