Schizophrenia- Psychodynamic

Question 1

What are the two key ideas of Freud’s to explain schizophrenia?

Answer 1

Fixation and regression

Question 2

What memoir did Freud base his theory on?

Answer 2

Memoirs of my Nervous Illness (1903)
written by Daniel Paul Schreber.
(after released from asylum)

Question 3

Definition of fixation:

Answer 3

A focus on a particular stage of psychosexual development because of over/under gratification during the stage.

Question 4

What is a regression?

Answer 4

A type of ego defence mechanism

Question 5

What happened if an infant is fed too much/little?

Answer 5

The individual may become fixated at the oral stage. As an adult, they may show certain behaviours satisfying the oral desires. (smoking/kissing,etc)

Question 6

What happens when an individual with oral fixation encounters excessive stress?

Answer 6

Regress to the oral stage and “become like a newborn again”

Question 7

What is the mind of an infant like as adults? (7)

Answer 7

-All id
-Self centred (focused on own gratification)
-Narcissistic
-Impulsive
-Unable to plan actions
-Cannot see immoral actions
-Difficult to engage with reality

Question 8

What does Freud say happens when schizophrenics become disengaged from reality?

Answer 8

This combined with having an active mind results in creation of alternate realities.

Question 9

What can having unchecked fantasies and wish fulfilment from the id cause? (3)

Answer 9

Self-obsession
Narcissism
Delusions

Question 10

What did Freud argue that hallucinations and delusions were?

Answer 10

The schizophrenics attempt to recover a sort of normality.

Question 11

What did McGlashan (2009) suggest about psychosis?

Answer 11

It is similar to phantom limb syndrome.
“The brain creates people and relationships in the mind to fill the blankness…”

Question 12

What is the theory of the schizophrenogenic mother?

Answer 12

Schizophrenia was caused by disordered mother-child relationship. The trigger came from mothers who were:
•Overly dominant
•Controlling
•Overprotective
•Cold
•Distant

Question 13

Evaluate the strengths of the schizophrenogenic mother: (2)

Answer 13

-Explains why schizophrenia runs in families (siblings have same mother)
-Evidence in biological suggesting disturbed upbringing play a factor.

Question 14

Name the weaknesses of the schizophrenogenic mother: (4+2)

Answer 14

-Focus on the mother and no other family members.
-Does not explain what happens when child has no mother.
-Limited evidence & incomplete.
-Cause and effect is not clear:
•Mother’s behaviour led to schizophrenia.
•Mother’s behaviour caused by child with schizophrenia.

Question 15

What are the strengths to Freud’s theory? (2)

Answer 15

-Explains why schizophrenics lose touch with reality
-At the time, genetics were not discovered so was a good theory at the time.

Question 16

Weakness of Freud’s theory: (5+1)

Answer 16

-Schizophrenic behaviour does not resemble an infants/children.
-Psychoanalysis can be useless & dangerous for schizophrenia. (Antipsychotic drugs work better, suggests biological base)
-Unscientific (untestable)
-If fixation occurs in childhood, why is schizophrenia developed later in life?
-Ignores genes.

Question 17

What did John Rosen (1947) propose?

Answer 17

Schizophrenia could be treated with psychoanalytical techniques.

Question 18

Who refutes John Rosen (1947) and why?

Answer 18

Strupp et al (1977) found psychoanalytical therapies can lead to deleterious/harmful effects, rather than beneficial. (distressing)

Question 19

How did Jacob Kasanin et al (1934) disprove the schizophrenogenic mother theory?

Answer 19

Almost 1/3 of cases did not have overprotective mothers, making it unconvincing evidence.