Psychological Explanations Of Scizophrenia - Family Dysfunction

Question 1

What are the two psychological explanations of schizophrenia?

Answer 1

• family dysfunction
• cognitive explanations

Question 2

What are the three theories of family dysfunction?

Answer 2

• schizophrenogenic mother
• double bind communication
• expressed emotion

Question 3

What two theories from family dysfunction should you use for a 16 marker?

Answer 3

• schizophrenogenic mother
• double bind communication

Question 4

What structure should you use when answering questions on psychological explanations?

Answer 4

Name
Explain
Feeling
Symptom

Question 5

Define family dysfunction
(Intro for essay)

Answer 5

• idea indv develops sz due to a dysfunctional fam env
• such as when communicating, they have high levels of tension and arguments
• this creates a risk for developing or worsening sz

Question 6

Name one theory of family dysfunction

Answer 6

(N) Schizophrenogenic mother

Question 7

Explain the schizophrenogenic mother theory of family dysfunction

Answer 7

• (E) idea sz is caused by a patients early exp of a sz mother
• sz mother is cold, controlling and rejecting
• creates a family env of tension and secrecy

Question 8

How does a schizophrenogenic mother make her family feel and what symptoms does this cause?

Answer 8

• (F) leads to distrust
• (S) that develops into paranoid delusions in sz
• the father is often passive

Question 9

Besides from thee schizophrenogenic mother, name another theory of family dysfunction?

Answer 9

(N) Double bind communication

Question 10

Explain double bind communication

Answer 10

• (E) it is argued sz is due to faulty communication patterns within families
• this occurs when the parents verbal msg doesn’t match their non - verbal msg
• so child receives mixed msgs
• e.g. mother may be verbally loving but emotionally rejecting, becoming rigid when child tries to show affection

Question 11

How does double bind communication within families make a child feel and what symptoms can it cause?

Answer 11

• (F) these confusing forms of communication can worsen or cause sz
• child feels helpless like they cant do the right thing
• leads to them feeling more anxious
• (S) therefore they avoid social contact (signs of avolition), have disorganised thinking and paranoid delusions

Question 12

Besides from the schizophrenogenic mother and double bind communication, name the last theory of family dysfunction

Answer 12

Expressed emotion

Question 13

Explain expressed emotion

Answer 13

• (E) high levels of negative emotion expressed to patient by family members such as verbal criticism, violence, anger, rejection and emotional over involvement in their life. this constant harassment causes stress and triggers sz, sz is then maintained as when patient is placed back in stressful env, pos and neg symptoms come back causing relapse

Question 14

What are the three PEELS used to evaluate family dysfunction?

Answer 14

RTS - schizophrenogenic mother
RTS - double bind communication
Prac apps - family therapy