psychological explanations for schiz

Question 1

define family dysfunction

Answer 1

abnormal process within a family such as poor communication, cold parenting and high levels of expressed emotion
- risk factors for the onset and/or maintenace of schiz

Question 2

the schizophrenogenic mother - reichmannn

Answer 2

• psychodynamic explanation based on accounts she had heard from her paitents about their childhood
• confusing mix of personality traits = cold, rejecting and controlling
• family climate is tensed and secretive = distruct, paranoid delusions = schiz

Question 3

double bind hypothesis - bateson et al

Answer 3

• is where an indicidual recieves two or more conflicting messages, with one negating the other = more likely to get schiz
• e.g. “i love you whilst turning away in disgust”
• trapped in situations where they fear doing things wrong = cant seek clarification
• getting it wrong = withdrawl of love = see the world as dangerous and confusing = delusional thinking and paranoid

Question 4

expressed emotion

Answer 4

• level of negative emotion expressed towards the paitent by the carer
• e.g. verbal criticism, hostile, anger, emotional over involvement
• serious source of stress = relapse or trigger an episode of schiz to someone who is vulnerable

Question 5

ao3 - lack of support

Answer 5

• poor evidence
• enough evidence for childhood family based stress there is no evidence to support for schizophrenogenic mother and double bind
• no systematic evidence = observations and informal assessements of personaliy of mothers/paitents

Question 6

ao3 - parent blaming

Answer 6

• useful in showing that insecure attatchement and expreinece of childhood trauma may affect individual vulnerability to schiz
• socially sensitive = parent blaming and adds insult to injury for parents having to watch child go through it
• psychologists should shy away from sensitive topics = use correct precautions = benefits of research outweigh costs

Question 7

ao3 - support = childhood

Answer 7

• insecure attachment and exposure to childhood trauma, especially abuse
• jhon read = adults with shiz = insecure attachemnts = 69% of women and 59% of men with schiz have a history of physical and/or sexual abuse
• more research = paitenst reported at least one chldhhod trauma, mostly abuse