Psychological Explanations for SZ

Question 1

What has family got to w all this shi

Answer 1

ur family r schizos
The impact of family relationships has been put forward as a possible explanation for SZ
Psychologists have attempted to link SZ to childhood and adulthood experiences of living in a dysfunctional family

Question 2

What is family dysfunction

Answer 2

Abnormal processes within a family such as poor family communication, cold parenting and high levels of expressed emotion
These may be risk factors for both the development and maintenance of SZ

Question 3

What is the schizophrenogenic mother

Answer 3

Early theorists thought a ‘schizophrenogenic mother’ who was cold, dominant and created conflict caused SZ tp emergy in the child
Freudian theory
ofc it fuckin is
These mothers were said to be rejecting, overprotective, self-sacrificing, moralistic about sex and fearful of intimacy
Distrust, resentfulness and instability caused by such a parent creates a family climate characterised by tension and secrecy
Leads to distrust that later develops into paranoid delusions (i.e. the belief that one is being persecuted by another person), and ultimately SZ

Question 4

What is the double bind theory

Answer 4

BAteson et al 1972
One of the first researchers to look at the family dynamic of those ppl diagnosed w SZ
He agreed that family climate is important in the development of SZ but emphasised the role of communication style within the family

Question 5

More abt the double bind theory abt contradiction

Answer 5

Bateson suggests children who frequently receive contradictory messages (double binds) from their parents are more likely tp develop SZ
According to the theory these interactions prevent the development pf an internally coherent construction of reality, and in the long run, this manifests itself as symptoms of SZ

Question 6

What is expressed emotion (EE) as another explanation

Answer 6

Explanation for relapse and cause in patients w SZ
Altho been suggested that may be a source of stress that can trigger the onset of SZ in someone who is already vulnerable
This family variable associated w SZ is a -ve emotional climate, or more generally, a high degree of expressed emotion (EE)
EE is a family communication style in which members of a family of a psychiatric patient talk abt the patient in a critical or hostile manner or in a way that indicates emotional over-involvement or over-concern w the patient or their behaviour