The Interactionist approach

Question 1

What is the interactionist approach?

Answer 1

It achknowledges there are biological, psychological and societal factors in the development of schizophrenia.

Question 2

What is the diathesis-stress model?

Answer 2

It states that one of more underlying factors make a person vulnerable to developing schizophrenia, but the onset of the condition is triggered by stress
‘The genes load the gun, the environment pulls the trigger’

Question 3

What is the origional diathesis-stress model?

Answer 3

It was entirely genetic - the result of a ‘schizogene’ and the triggers were psychological, it was assumed that a person with the gene and sufferred significant psychological stress in childhood could result in the development of schizophrenia (if they didn’t have the gene, they wouldn’t get schizophrenia)

Question 4

What is diathesis? What is the modern understanding of diathesis?

Answer 4

Diathesis means a predisposition. Nowadays it is clear that a number of genes appear to increase genetic vulnerability. It is believed that trauma can be a diathesis as well as genes.

Question 5

What is the modern understanding of stress?

Answer 5

Stress can include anything that triggers schizophrenia and can be psychological or biological in nature.