The Interactionist Approach

Question 1

what does the interactionist approach acknowledges?

Answer 1

-there are biological, psychological, societal factors in development of schizophrenia.

Question 2

what do biological factors include?

Answer 2

genetic vulnerability
neurochemical imbalances
neurological abnormalities

Question 3

what do psychological factors include?

Answer 3

stress - which can result from life events (death of family event)

daily hassles (poor quality family interactions)

Question 4

what is a diathesis?

Answer 4

predisposition to developing medical condition

Question 5

what is stress?

Answer 5

any environmental factor that could trigger a disorder

Question 6

what causes schizophrenia?

Answer 6

diathesis + stress

Question 7

what is diathesis stress model?

Answer 7

says that both vulnerability to schizophrenia and stress-trigger are necessary to develop schizophrenia

Question 8

whats the original diathesis stress model?

Answer 8

-Meehl (1962)
-original model says the diathesis is entirely genetic (‘schizo-gene’ - schizotypic personality)

-if a person doesn’t have this gene no amount of stress could lead to schizophrenia

Question 9

whats the modern diathesis stress model?

Answer 9

-range of factors can cause underlying vulnerability to schizophrenia.

-could be genes or psychological trauma.

-psychological trauma could be child abuse (this can impact brain development)

-stress is anything that risks triggering schizophrenia. Could be psychological stress for examples from parents or it could be cannabis use.