psychological explanations of schizophrenia Flashcards
Outline the schizophrenogenic mother explanation.
Sz caused by rejection from the patient’s mother.
Sz = distrusting, resentful due to interactions with mother during childhood.
SGzM = cold, rigid, domineering, unresponsive to child’s needs, moralistic about sex.
Makes the child distrusing and resentful of others. this can lead to Sz.
Evaluate the Schizophrenogenic mother explanation.
Lacks scientific validity - based on flawed methodologies such as uncontrolled observations between child and mother. lack of objective evidence, unlike biological explanations which use empirical methods such as gene mapping.
Correlation - no cause and effect - not all mothers who show SzG characteristics raise Sz children. Not all Sz sufferers have SzGM. Multiple causes.
Socially sensitive - blames the mother.
Outline Mednick’s research into the Schizophrenogenic mother explanation.
group of 207 children in Denmark. high risk of developing Sz - lived in dysfunctional families.
mothers were cold, rejecting, unresponsive to child’s needs. none of the mothers had Sz at the start of the research.
17 of the 207 had been diagnosed with Sz.
Compared to 1 from a control group of 107 children who were not considered high risk.
Outline Double Bind Communication.
Sz is due to faulty communication which occurs in families.
Parent communicates a message which is incompatible on the levels of verbal and non-verbal communication. e.g. verbally loving but goes rigid when the child tries to hug them
confusing forms of communication throughout childhood leads to Sz - places the child in a no-win situation. they become increasingly anxious and are likely to withdraw and avoid social contact.
Evaluate DBC.
Berger - schizophrenics could remember more instances of DBC in childhood than non-schizophrenics. supports the role of faulty communication in Sz.
Retrospective data - look back to childhood. could falsely remember/lie. reduces validity.
Environmentally reductionist - focuses only on the role of faulty communication in Sz. Neglects the role of biological factors such as genes and dopamine. holistic approach needed - considers interaction between nature and nurture in Sz.
What is Expressed Emotion.
over playing emotions.
being over-critical or showing over-concern or hostility.
How is EE assessed?
taping interview with a relative of someone with Sz and rating:
- number of critical comments.
- number of statements of dislike/resentment.
- number of statements showing over-involvements with the patient.
Outline research into EE.
Brown - schizophrenic patients more likely to relapse when returned to homes with high levels of EE.
Tarrier - strong correlation between relapse and living with EE.
Evaluate EE overall.
Concerns about how EE is measured - only one interview is conducted to rate comments/statements made. Based on subjective data - i.e. how the psychologist interprets the statements made. no objective factual evidence - lowers scientific val.
