scizophrenia non-biological explanation

Question 1

what is the non biological explanation

Answer 1

social causation

it is the view thay the people around you acts as a major cause of Sz or at least precipitates relapse

Question 2

what is social adversity

Answer 2

some children grow up in environments less favourable than other

eg. unemployment, poverty, poorer standard of living, lower socioeconomic groups

Question 3

what is urbanicity

Answer 3

Sz more common in urban areas
more stressful

eg. noise, light pollution, criminality, faster pace, greater anonymity, increased population density

increase the experience of chronic social defeat

Question 4

how does immigration and minority status impact Sz

Answer 4

4/100 people in lower social classes and balck immigrants develop Sz

living in an immigrant community, facing an unstable family life or suffering economic hardship can cause people to feel margionalised

environmental breeder hypothesis has been put forward because of census data showing higher rates of Sz in african-caribbean and black immigrants

immigrants tend to be disadvantaged in education, quality of housing and discrimination creating adverisity

2nd generation immigrants have a higher incidence rate as they have learnt to fit in with society norms which asre different to their parents, can cause stress and Sz

Question 5

what are the strengths of social causation

Answer 5

+ castle tested social drift hypothesis comparing birthplace of Sz in Camberwell with a group of non Sz, most Sz born into deprived urban areas

+ social causation hypothesis can help deal with Sz drawing attention to factors that affect mental health at a community level
eg. housing projects to reduce overcrouding

Question 6

what are the weaknesses for social causation

Answer 6

• not everyone with certain environmental factors develops Sz, diathesis stress model says environmental factors only cause Sz in those with underlying genetics
  + however does explain social part
• research eveidence may be biased, people from ethnic minorities/lower social groups are more likely to be labelled, greater intervention from social services and police
• hard to establish cause and effect as there are many social factors, cant isolate to see individual effects