Psychological Explanations: Family Dysfunction

Question 1

Psychologists have proposed a possible link between schizophrenia and both childhood and adulthood experiences of living in s dysfunctional family

Answer 1

There are a number of theories that make this link, all focusing on abnormal patterns of communication within the family

Question 2

Schizophrenogenic mother

Frieda Fromm-Reichmann

Answer 2

‘Schizophrenia causing’
Cold, rejecting and controlling and creates a family climate characterised by tension and secrecy
Leads to distrust later developing into paranoid delusions and ultimately schizophrenia

Question 3

Double bind theory

Bateson

Answer 3

Emotionally distressing dilemma in communication causing schiz

Schizophrenics more likely to have received contradicting messages in childhood

Double bind communications presents a situation that can not be resolved, ignored or escaped from

Child experienced confusion and an unhealthy construct of reality

Lead to symptoms of delusions and avolition

Question 4

Expressed emotion

Brown

Answer 4

Level of emotional (negative) expressed towards a patient by their careers

Verbal criticism of the patient, occasionally accompanied by violence

Hostility towards the patient including angry and rejection

Emotional over involvement in the life of the patient including needless self sacrifice

High levels of expressed emotion are a serious cause of stress that can trigger the onset of schizophrenia with an individual who is already vulnerable

Question 5

Supporting evidence for the role of family dysfunction as a risk factor in schiz
Read et al
Berger

Answer 5

69% women 59% men with schiz had a history of physical/sexual abuse in childhood

Schizophrenics recalled experiencing a higher amount of double bind communications by their mothers compared to schizophrenics

Increases the validity of these explanations by showing schiz linked to difficult family relationships

Question 6

Potentially damaging

Answer 6

Led to the blaming of parents which is traumatic becsudr they had to endure deteriorating mental state and have life long responsibility for their care

The stress caused by blame could be problematic from patients who return go the family home, making it more difficult for them fo make a full recovery

This combined with lack of scientific evidence for schiz. Mother and double bind has led to a decline in their popularity

Question 7

Ultimately incomplete (any psychological explanation)

Answer 7

Both cognitive and family models fail to take genetic factors into account despite there being strong evidence for heredity

(Family and twin study details)

Problem was addressed in thr diathesis stress model. Howes and Murrey argue genetic vulnerability + stress (EE) cause increase in DA activity and fault info processing leading to schiz

To account for all aspects of disorder, we must incorporate psychological and biological factors