Social explanation: Dysfunctional families

Question 1

Bateson

Answer 1

Put forawrd the double bind theory which explains the development of schizophrenia as being abnormal and inadequate patterns of communication within the families of schizophrenics. For example, a father may tell a child that he loves them but in a tone that does not suggest love, therefore the child recieves two conflicting messages. This theory therefore states that it is the way parents or other family members communicate with the child which causes schz. If a child is exposed to this sort of communication they become unable to respond logically to others. Double bind theory also leads to hallucinations and delusions as a means to escape from conflict caused by the contradictory statements, Can also cause the child to respond with maladaptive patterns to help them navigate social situations.

Question 2

Berger

Answer 2

Interviews schizophrenics, and found that they had a higher recall for double bind statements by their mothers, than the non schz controls.

Question 3

Ringette and Kennedy

Answer 3

Determining what classes as double bind is very subjective. Ringette and Kennedy got experts and non-experts to make judgements about letter written to schz. The results demonstrated that the experts were no better at identifying the double bind statements than the non experts, so if double bind statements are difficult for the professionals to determine, how can we be sure pf what they actually are in the first place.

Question 4

Schumen

Answer 4

Argued that conduction around defining what double bind statements are has impeded the research and provided little support to the theory. It is fair to argue that the evidence for the influence of double bid is conflicted, at best, and weak or non existent at worst.