psych expl- family dysfunction.

Question 1

family dysfunction

Answer 1

processes within a family such as poor family communication, cold parenting and high levels of expressed emotion.
may be risk factors for both the development and maintenance of schiz.

Question 2

schizophrenogenic mother

fromm-reichmann (1948)

Answer 2

• psychodynamic explanation for schiz based on her patients accounts of childhood. many spoke of particular parent.
• cold, rejecting, controlling, creates family climate characterised by tension and secrecy.
• leads to distrust, later developing into paranoid delusions, and ultimately schiz.

Question 3

double-bind theory

bateson (1972)

Answer 3

• role of communication style within family risk factor
• child trapped in situations where fear doing wrong, but mixed messages about what this is, so feel unable to comment on unfairness of situation/seek clarification. when get it wrong (often), punished by withdrawal of love.
• view world as confusing and dangerous. reflected in symptoms like disorganised thinking/paranoid delusions.

Question 4

expressed emotion

Answer 4

the level of emotion (negative emotion) expressed towards a person with schizophrenia by their carers

Question 5

elements of EE

Answer 5

• verbal criticism of person (occassionally violence)
• hostility towards person. anger and rejection.
• emotional overinvolvement in person’s life. needless self-sacrifice

Question 6

how does EE affect schizophrenia?

Answer 6

serious source of stress for individual.
primarily expl of relapse.
may cause stress triggering onset of people already genetically vulnerable (diathesis-stress-model)

Question 7

strength

research support

Answer 7

insecure attachment and exposure to childhood trauma are indicators of family dysfunction.
read (2005)- adults with schiz disproportionately likely to have insecure attachment. 69% women and 59% men w schiz have history of physical and/or sexual abuse
morkved (2017)- most adults w schiz reported at least 1 childhood trauma, usually abuse.

strength- provides evidence for fact that FD makes ppl more vulnerable to schiz

Question 8

limitation

explanations lack support.

Answer 8

is evidence supporting idea that childhood/family stress linked to adult schiz, but little to support theories like schizophrenogenic mother and double blind.
both theories based on clinical observation of schiz patients + informal assessment of mother’s personalities. not systematic evidence.

limitation- validity of theories not confirmed/sound evidence base.

Question 9

issue

socially sensitive

Answer 9

parent-blaming. mothers in particular.
parents already watching child suffer schiz and take responsibility for care.
theories like schiz mother and double bind cause harm.

controversial.