Non-biological Explanation for Sz - Social Causation Hypothesis Flashcards
What does social causation hypothesis argue a major cause of Sz is?
The human world is a major cause of Sz or response of Sz
Many environmental risk factors (stressors) contribute
What does social causation hypothesis argue about people with genetic predispositions to Sz?
Argue people with a genetic predisposition to Sz may develop Sz as a result of the stressors acting as a trigger
What are the four environmental risk factors contributing to Sz?
Social adversity
Urbanicity
Social isolation
Immigration and majority status
What is social adversity according to social causation hypothesis?
Failure to meet needs e.g. poverty, unemployment
Social defeat - causes stress
Lower socioeconomic groups may have less access to treatments
What is urbanicity according to social causation hypothesis?
Densely populated or urban area you will experience more stressors due to having a competitive environment
Urban area - more stressful
What is social isolation according to social causation hypothesis?
People with Sz withdraw from social interaction
Being isolated leads to a lack of feedback from others about whether behaviour is inappropriate/bizarre
Symptoms persist/get worse
What is immigration and majority status according to social causation hypothesis?
Research suggests in many countries both 1st and 2nd generation immigrants are more vulnerable to Sz
May be due to marginalisation by others in society
2nd generation may have more stress due to wanting to maintain a strong cultural identity and being influenced by friends
Which social class is more likely to be brought to get medical help from the police or social services?
Lower social class patients more likely to be brought to get medical help by the police or social services and to become admitted as long term Sz patients
What is the supporting evidence/strengths of social causation hypothesis?
Cooper (2005)
Eaton (2000)
Vassos et al (2012)
Useful Applications
Holistic Explanation
What is the refuting evidence/weaknesses of social causation hypothesis?
Goldberg & Morrison (1963)
Twin Study Evidence
Carlsson et al (2000)
Psychology as a science
Lack of Validity
Why is Cooper (2005) supporting evidence for social causation hypothesis?
Found that for single men the rate of Sz in unskilled labourers was more than four times higher than those in managerial positions
Supports idea that social class is a feature involved in the onset of Sz
Why is Eaton (2000) supporting evidence for social causation hypothesis?
Found through a meta-analysis of 17 studies that the rate of Sz is much higher in lower-class areas than upper-class
Supports social causation explanation
Why is Vassos et al (2012) supporting evidence for social causation hypothesis?
Analysed data from 4 studies (Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark) to correlate location (urban to rural) with Sz risk
Risk was 2.37 times higher for people living in the most urban environments compared with most rural
Supports urbanicity as a feature of Sz
Why is useful applications a strength for social causation hypothesis?
Treatments have been developed around this social explanation
Care in the community is a way of allowing Sz individuals to live in society whilst also taking their medication therefore treating Sz in both a social and biological ways
Why is holistic explanation a strength for social causation hypothesis?
Social causation hypothesis of Sz is a more holistic explanation because it considers both social and biological factors
e.g. suggests individuals who already have a genetic predisposition to Sz and are exposed to environmental stress are more likely to develop Sz
Not taking one explanation into accounts, uses other factors
Why is Goldberg & Morrison (1963) refuting evidence for social causation hypothesis?
Support idea of social drift, finding that the excess of patients with Sz in the lower social classes was mainly attributable to them drifting down the social classes at the onset of psychosis
Opposing argument - social drift
Got Sz and have drifted down social classes
Why is twin study evidence a weakness for social causation hypothesis?
Twin study evidence shows that social causation is not a complete explanation for Sz. We know their is a genetic contribution to the development of Sz
Gottesman & Shields (1966) found concordance rate of 54% for MZ twins showing social causation isn’t a complete explanation for Sz
Why is Carlsson et al (2000) refuting evidence for social causation hypothesis?
Challenge social causation suggesting Sz is due to an imbalance of neurotransmitters whereby hypoglutamatergia leads to hypodopminergia challenging importance of social adversity factors
Why is psychology as a science a weakness for social causation hypothesis?
It isn’t possible to determine that lower social class causes Sz since many individuals in the lower classes don’t have Sz therefore challenging psychology as a science
Why is validity a weakness for social causation hypothesis?
When comparing different explanation for Sz, the biological explanation may be viewed as more credible than social causation since its based upon evidence from brain scans and lab experiments
Social causation - self report &meta-analysis therefore may lack validity
