Psychological explanations

Question 1

What does the family dysfunction explanation suggest

Answer 1

The development of Sz is due to abnormal family communication style patters created by the schizophrenic mother, mixed messages according to double bind theory and stress caused by high levels of expressed emotions- all responsible for contribution to development of Sz

Question 2

What is the schizophrenic mother

Answer 2

• schizophrenic mother characterised as being cold and rejecting. Leads to family climate becoming tense and lacking honesty which leads to paranoia and anxiety. These feelings manifest into positive symptoms of Sz like paranoid delusions

Question 3

What is the double - bind theory

Answer 3

• within a family a child receives mixed messages about whats right and wrong. Tense atmosphere means child is unable to reveive clarification or voice their opinions about the mixed messages. Child sees world as confusing and unfair, leads to schizophrenic symptoms like disorganised thinking or paranoid delusions

Question 4

What is expressed emotion

Answer 4

• negative emotions expressed towards to someone wih Sz, often family members. Leads to high levels of stress which can potentially cause a relapse and trigger Sz

Question 5

Strengths for family dysfunction

Answer 5

Research support
Berger found that Szs reported a higher recall of double- bind statments by their mothers than non Sz.
Strongly supports theory.
Research however only focuses on mothers interactions ignores fathers. It could be a schizophrenic father that makes double bind comments but this isnt measured in the research. Doesnt account for patients with no mother.

Question 6

Limitations of family dysfunction

Answer 6

1) The research is case studies ( Berger), give us detail rich date. Unique cases that cant be generlised

2) can lead to parent blaming
socially sensitive
may be controversial

Question 7

what is the cognitive explanation for Sz

Answer 7

Frith et al suggested that abnormal thought processes( like misrepresentation and central control) can lead to the development of Sz

Question 8

what is meterepresentation

Answer 8

the cognitive ability to differentiate between our actions and the actions of others, allowing us insight into intentions and emotions of others as well s maintaining a realistic view of our own life and goals. Dysfunctions in this have been linked to auditory hallucinations due to the inability to differentiate between actions of our own and others

Question 9

what is central control

Answer 9

the ability to suppress automatic responses. Often measured via the stroop test. People with dysfunctional central control often suffer from derailment ( disorganised speech and thought) as they cannot suppress automatic actions so often talk of topic

Question 10

strength of cognitive explanation

Answer 10

There is evidence supporting dysfunctional thought processing
- Stirling et al compared 30 Sz patients with 18 non Sz on range of cognitive tasks like Stroop test ( suppressing automatic impulses)
- Sz took over twice as long
- supports theory that people with Sz have impaired cognition

Question 11

weaknesses of cognitive explanation

Answer 11

Doesnt take into account biological factors. Ignores biological causes of Sz like candidate genes, dopamine hypothesis