Psychological explanation- schizophrenia

Question 1

cognitive theories

Answer 1

attentional impairment

selective attention overwhelmed with sensory information that they are unable to interpret

Question 2

Frith 1992- cognitive theory

Answer 2

claimed positive symptoms occur because individuals have problems with self monitoring. they cannot distinguish between actions that are driven by external forces and those drive by internal intention

Question 3

Frith aims

Answer 3

distinguishes between conscious and preconscious processing

seeks to explain auditory hallucinations

Question 4

Frith argues

Answer 4

that individuals with schizophrenia have another important cognitive deficit - the ability to understand other peoples state of mind = ‘theory of mind’

Question 5

evaluation positive

Answer 5

McGuigan 1966 found the larynx of patients with schizophrenia was often active during the time they claimed to be experiencing auditory hallucinations - mistook inner speech for someone elses

Question 6

Hemsley’s model 1993-2005

Answer 6

perception and memory combine effectively in healthy individuals but fail to do so in individuals with schizophrenia leading to disorganised thinking and behaviour

Question 7

limitation of Frith and Helmsley’s theories

Answer 7

do not explain the negative symptoms of schizophrenia

Question 8

limitation of cognitive approach

Answer 8

direction of causality not clear, other factors may play a role in triggering schizophrenia