Social Causation SZ Explanation Flashcards
Social Causation Explanation for SZ
The view that the human world acts as a major cause of SZ.
SC - Social Adversity
Humans have physical needs such as nutrition warmth and shelter but they can also be intellectual, emotional, and social. People who grow up in less fortunate environments can make them more vulnerable to mental disorders in the future.
People from lower socioeconomic groups may not be able to access treatment for schizophrenia.
SC - Urbanicity
Link between urban living and schizophrenia.
William Eaton 1974 suggested that city life is more stressful than rural life, long term stress exposure may trigger a schizophrenic episode.
Stressors linked to city life: noise, light, pollution, crime etc.
Increased population density can make life more competitive, increasing the experience of chronic social defeat.
SC - Social Isolation Robert Farris
Robert Faris 1934 suggested people with SZ withdraw because they feel contact with others is stressful.
Self imposed isolation cuts them off from feedback about what behaviours are inappropriate, no feedback may make them behave strangely.
Supporting Social Causation Evangelos Vassos
Evangelos Vassos et al’s meta analysis from 4 studies conducted in Sweden, Netherlands and Denmark including nearly 24,000 SZ cases.
Shows relative risk of SZ increases in line with population density.
Competing argument against Evangelos Vassos et al
The data is correlational so it isn’t possible to say that SZ is caused by urbanicity or adversity.
Evidence Against Social Causation
Evidence from MZ/DZ twin studies
It is reductionist.
We know there is some genetic contribution to the development of SZ.
Suggests that role of environmental factors may only trigger the onset of SZ in people genetically predisposed to the condition.
This is the diathesis-stress SZ model.
Social Causation Application
Draw attention to factors which affect mental health at the community level.
