Psychological Explanations to Schizophenia Flashcards
What are the different psychological explanations for schizophrenia?
Family dysfunction, double bind theory, expressed emotion and the schizophregenic mother.
What is meant by family dysfunction?
An unpredictable family which has lack of communication and other abnormal processes which may be a risk factor in the development of SZ.
What is the double bind theory?
Bateson et al: where family climate is one of mixed emotion - verbal message is given but opposite behaviour is exhibited.
In the double bind theory, what is meant by the flat effect?
Where one exhibits lack of emotional expression.
What is meant by expressed emotion?
How much emotion - specifically negative - is expressed towards a patient by their carers.
Give two examples of expressed emotion.
Verbal criticism and over-involvement
What is meant by the schizophregenic mother?
A mother who is cold, rejecting and controlling.
How might a schizophregenic mother cause SZ?
Family climate is characterised by tension and secrecy and this may lead to paranoid delusions.
Give one strength of the psychological explanation of SZ.
- Research support.
Read et al: 69% women and 59% men with SZ experienced childhood abuse.
Shows family dysfunction leads to increased risk of SZ.
Give 2 weaknesses of the psychological explanation of SZ.
- Alternative explanation.
Biological explanation emphasises role in genetics.
Shows exp may be better as it identifies root cause. - Exp is socially sensitive.
Blames family for SZ e.g schizophregenic mother.
