Non-biological explanation of schizophrenia Flashcards
state the 5 aspects of the non biological explanation of schizophrenia
- social causation hypothesis
- social adversity
- urbanicity
- social isolation
- immigration and minority status
explain what is meant by social causation hypothesis
it is the view that the human world acts as a major cause of schizophrenia. Environmental factors such as family dysfunction, child hood trauma, social adversity, urbanicity, social isolation, and immigration can cause this.
explain what is meant by social adversity
individuals who grow up in environments which are less favourable than others can make them vulnerable to schizophrenia in the future e.g. families living in poverty/unemployed are exposed to higher levels of stress than others. So people from lower socio-economic backgrounds will have less access to treatment of schizophrenia increasing vulnerability.
explain what is meant by urbanicity using a supporting study. (hint: posh private school where headmistress was murdered)
Eaton et al suggested that city life was more stressful than rural life, and that long term exposure could trigger SZ.
Stressors include noise, light, temperature, pollution, criminality. Increased population density also makes life more competitive e.g. a seat on the tube, this experience of social defeat can be a stressor which can induce SZ.
explain what is meant by the term social isolation using a supporting study. (faris)
Faris et al suggested people with SZ withdraw because they fell contact with others is stressful. This cuts individuals off from feedback about what behaviours are thought to be inappropriate and in absence of feedback behave strangely.
explain what is meant by minority status in terms of schizophrenia
second generation immigrants are at greater risk of SZ because of weaker cultural identity. They have learned, more than their parents, to fit in with the norms of indigenous society and so identification with their parents and beliefs they hold themselves are at odds with those of their parents’. This creates stress which exacerbates vulnerability to SZ. The marginalisation of out-groups leave people vulnerable to SZ.
How can minority status increasing SZ be reduced? (using a supporting study) hint: opposite of girl
Boydell et al suggested the risk of SZ decreases as the number of people from the same ethnic background increase.
What did Veiling et al suggest about the cause of Schizophrenia?
He suggested that SZ is a reaction towards chronic experience of prejudice and discrimination.
State a strength of schizophrenia (Vassos et al in scandi countries)
He preformed a meta analysis of data from Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark of 24000 causes of SZ. There is a significant correlation between urban dwelling and schizophrenia. They found the risk was 2.37 times higher for people living in urban environments compared to rural environments. This shows that relative risk of SZ in line with population density.
what is a counter Vassos et al’s meta analysis of SZ in urban environments? hint: this is a hypothesis!
However, data is correlational so it is not possible to say that SZ is caused by urbanicity. Social drift hypothesis suggests people with SZ find it very hard to hold down a job, causing them to drift into a lower social class than parents => leading to them migrating into deprived urban areas therefore SZ leads to urbanicity rather than vice versa.
explain a supporting study veiling carried out in support of the non-biological explanation of schizophrenia hint: questionaire
He carried out a questionnaire that found that people classed as marginalised (weak national and ethnic identity) were at greater risk of SZ than integrated people (strong national and ethnic identity). This suggests that having a strong ethnic identity may be a protective factor against SZ.
Explain a weakness of the non-biological explanation of schizophrenia
The view is not a complete explanation. There is some genetic contribution to the development of SZ. This suggests the role of environmental factors may only trigger the onset of SZ in people who are genetically predisposed (diathesis)
State a way in which the non biological explanation can have application to society.
social causation hypothesis can help deal with SZ by drawing attention to factors which affect mental health at the community level. Housing projects which reduce overcrowding and encourage neighbourhood cohesion and celebrate cultural diversity should foster courage to help communities arm themselves against mental breakdowns. This develops a sense of collective social responsibility for, not only our own mental well-being, but that of others.
