Psychological Explanations For Schizophrenia

Question 1

What are the 2 definitions under family dysfunction ?

Answer 1

• Double Bind Theory (F.D)
• Expressed Emotions (EE)

Question 2

What is the key assumption of family dysfunction?

Answer 2

• unhealthy dynamic
• mental anguish

Question 3

What is Double Bind Theory?

Answer 3

• mixed messages
• Bateson
• person giving contradictory signals to another person
• places them in an impossible situation
• causing internal conflict
• schizophrenic symptoms represents an attempt to escape from the double bind
• defence mechanism

Question 4

What is the research support for double bind theory?

Answer 4

• READ
- 42 studies
- 69% female patients
- 59% make patients
- concluded that majority had history of physical/sexual abuse in childhood
- shows massive mixed messages

• BERGER
- found evidence of double bind communication by parents of schizophrenia patients compared to control group

Question 5

Weaknesses of Double Bind Theory

Answer 5

• research support from Liem et all: compared communication patterns in families with and without Sz members
• found abnormality in patient communication was a response to the schizophrenic symptoms
• validity issues: conclusion tend to be based on clinical observations. Are the patients truthful? Leads to blame of already suffering patients

Question 6

What is Expressed Emotions?

Answer 6

Where within a family, there are high levels of
- criticism
- hostility
- Emotional over-involvement