2022-2024 Year 13 A-Level Psychology - Schizophrenia: Psychological Explanations - Family Dysfunction Part 2
This flashcard set focuses on the schizophrenogenic mother as part of the family dysfunction explanation of schizophrenia. It outlines how certain maternal characteristics — such as being cold, controlling, and emotionally distant — can create an environment of tension and secrecy within the family. This hostile atmosphere fosters distrust, which may contribute to the development of paranoid delusions, a key symptom of schizophrenia.
In summarising schizophreniogenic mother in the explanation of schizophrenia…
Schizphenogenic mother's characteristics --> build family tension and secrecy --> leads to --> develop paranoid delusions in schizophrenia
distrust
Key Terms
In summarising schizophreniogenic mother in the explanation of schizophrenia…
Schizphenogenic mother's characteristics --> build family tension and secrecy --> leads to --> develop paranoid delusions in schizophrenia
distrust
In summarising schizophreniogenic mother in the explanation of schizophrenia…
Schizphenogenic mother's characteristics --> build family tension and secrecy --> leads to distrust --> develop __ in schizophrenia
paranoid delusions
In summarising schizophreniogenic mother in the explanation of schizophrenia…
Schizphenogenic mother's characteristics --> build family tension and secrecy --> leads to distrust --> develop paranoid __ in schizophrenia
delusions
Paranoid delusions are positive or negative symptoms of schizophrenia?
Positive
What did Bateson et al (1956) argue schizophrenia is due to?
the faulty communication patterns that exist within families.
Bateson et al (1956) argues that schizophrenia is due to the faulty patterns that exist within families.
communication
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
In summarising schizophreniogenic mother in the explanation of schizophrenia… Schizphenogenic mother's characteristics --> build family tension and secrecy --> leads to --> develop paranoid delusions in schizophrenia | distrust |
In summarising schizophreniogenic mother in the explanation of schizophrenia… Schizphenogenic mother's characteristics --> build family tension and secrecy --> leads to distrust --> develop __ in schizophrenia | paranoid delusions |
In summarising schizophreniogenic mother in the explanation of schizophrenia… Schizphenogenic mother's characteristics --> build family tension and secrecy --> leads to distrust --> develop paranoid __ in schizophrenia | delusions |
Paranoid delusions are positive or negative symptoms of schizophrenia? | Positive |
What did Bateson et al (1956) argue schizophrenia is due to? | the faulty communication patterns that exist within families. |
Bateson et al (1956) argues that schizophrenia is due to the faulty patterns that exist within families. | communication |
Bateson et al (1956) argues that schizophrenia is due to the __ communication patterns that exist within families. | faulty |
Which type of faulty communication patterns increases the risk for schizophrenia? | Double bind communication |
Double communication is a type of faulty communication pattern that increases the risk of schizophrenia. | bind |
Double bind communication occurs when the ___ communicates a verbal message which is not __ with their non-verbal message, so the child receives mixed messages. | parent |
Double communication occurs when the parent a verbal message which is not matched with their non-verbal message, so the child receives mixed messages. | bind |
Double bind communication occurs when the parent communicates a message which is not matched with their __ message, so the child receives mixed messages. | verbal |
Double bind communication occurs when the parent communicates a verbal message which is not matched with their non-verbal message, so the child receives _. | mixed messages |
In an example of double bind communication, if the father is verbally loving how might he be emotionally? | rejecting |
How does the child feel in double bind communication? | The child feels they cannot do the right thing and becomes increasingly anxious, |
When the child feels anxious as a result of double blind communication what impact does this have on schizophrenic symptoms? | signs of avolition and disorganised thinking and paranoid delusions. |
Expressed Emotion: | family members. |
What is the term which describes the level of emotion, in particular negative emotion, expressed towards a person by family members? | Expressed emotion |
What kind of emotion, in particular, is expressed towards a person by a family member? | Negative emotions |
High levels of expressed emotion includes what type of criticism? | Verbal criticism |
High levels of expressed emotion include hostility towards a person such as? | Anger and rejection |
High levels of expressed emotion include emotional over-in a person's life. | involvement |
How does expressed emotion impact patients? | This can cause stress in the patient |
How do expressed emotion and stress relate to the development of schizophrenia? | Stress in the patient from the family's expressed emotion can trigger the onset of schizophrenia. |
The maintenance of schizophrenia (expressed emotion): What is the primary explanation for relapse in patients with schizophrenia. | Stress caused by expressed emotion. |
Stress caused by expressed emotion is a primary explanation for relapse in patients with schizophrenia. (Kavanagh, 1992). Why? | This is because when a patient with SZ is placed back into a stressful environment, positive and negative symptoms (S) come back. |
AO3: What was the sample of children in Mednick et al's (1984)research to support the schizophrenogenic mother theory? | 207 children (high risk for developing SZ) They were raised in dysfunctional families where the mothers were cold and rejecting. |
AO3: What was FOUND In Mednick et al's (1984)research to support the schizophrenogenic mother theory? | It was found that 17 children of this high-risk group were diagnosed with schizophrenia, this is 8%, compared to 1% of the general population |
AO3: What did Berger's (1965) research on double bind communication find when ppts were asked about their interactions with their parents in childhood? | It was found that schizophrenics could remember more instances of double bind communication from their mother than non-schizophrenics.. |
AO3: Practical applications. What is the theory you can use in a real-world situation based on the psychological explanation of schizophrenia? | Schizophrenia is caused by faulty family communication |
AO3 Practical application The theory that schizophrenia is caused by faulty family communication has led to the development of what? | Family therapy treatment |
AO3 Practical application: This reduces stress levels and expressed emotion and can help prevent relapse of schizophrenia (Leff et al, 1985), therefore family dysfunction as an explanation of schizophrenia is an important part of applied psychology as it helps to treat people in the real world. | therapist meeting with the patient and their family in order to try and alter relationship and communication patterns. |
AO3 Practical application: What impact does family therapy have on individuals? | It reduces stress levels and expressed emotion and can help prevent relapse of schizophrenia (Leff et al, 1985). |