Schizophrenia - Individual differences explanations

Question 1

1 What is a fixation?

Answer 1

Libido gets stuck in psychosexual stage as a result of overindulgence or frustration

Question 2

1 What is regression?

Answer 2

Ego defence mechanism - when individual has distrubing thoughts, may regress back to earlier stage rather than deal with issues

Question 3

1 What is the tripartite theory?

Answer 3

Personality have three parts - Id, Ego, Superego

Question 4

1 What did Freud argue?

Answer 4

Schizophrenics regress back to new-born state and become fixated at oral stage where they only focus on the self.
Become disengaged from outside world, combined with possession of active mind leads to creation of alternate realities

Question 5

1 What does Id dominant mean?

Answer 5

Person is self obsessed and unconcerned with others so withdraws from society and social relationships
Delusions and hallucinations develop to replace lost social relationships and recover sense of normality

Question 6

1 What does McGlashan suggest?

Answer 6

Psychosis is similar to phantom limb syndrome - social relationships can be cut off when schizophrenic becomes diengaged but believe they are still there due to voices in their head

Question 7

1 Supporting research (psychoanalysis) for psychodynamic approach

Answer 7

Eysenck - 44% were seen as ‘cured’/’much improved’ - beneficial for some

Question 8

1 Psychodynamic theory is reductionist?

Answer 8

ignore genetics as it focusses on early experiences
Heston - 10.6% with biological mother who has SZ also had SZ

Question 9

1 Alternative treatment for psychodynamic?

Answer 9

Antipsychotics have been found to be more effective for many illnesses

Question 10

1 Credibility issues for psychodynamic approach?

Answer 10

An effective therapy does not appear to be produced from theory
Strupp - techniques may be harmful as patients are required to recall memories which they are incapable of doing.

Question 11

2 What does cognitive research focus on?

Answer 11

Positive symptoms - not much research on negative symtpoms however, triad helps to explain them

Question 12

2 What do individuals hve a negative view on?

Answer 12

themselves, world and future
Mental filters only allow in negative messages supporting pessimistic view

Question 13

What did Rector, Beck & Stolar propose?

Answer 13

Diathesis stress model - genes create a predisposition to developing a behaviour but environmental stressor is needed to trigger it

Question 14

2 Rector, Beck & Stolar stated?

Answer 14

While neurobiological factors play some role in the intial onset of negative symptoms, cognitions and beliefs play a role in persistence

Question 15

2 What did Rector, Beck & Stolar say schizophrenic hold?

Answer 15

negative dysfunctional beliefs about:
- Poor performance and limited ability to experience pleasure
- Future
- World around them

Question 16

2 What are negative symtpoms?

Answer 16

Type of ‘compensatory strategy’ from reality - result of SZ responding to negative thoughts about others around them - protect patient from underlying negative thoughts/biases

Question 17

2 What is severity of symtoms related to?

Answer 17

Strength of their negative cognitions about the self, world and future

Question 18

2 Supporting research (meta analysis) for CBT?

Answer 18

Wykes - CBT showed the greatest effects on negative symptoms of SZ even though it was not targeting them

Question 19

2 Limited explanation (Initial thoughts) for CBT?

Answer 19

Doesnt explain initial negative thoughts - offers proximate cause - distal cause is not clear so therapy may not be clear

Question 20

2 Partial explanation (symptoms) for CBT?

Answer 20

Cannot explain positive symptoms - only negative symptoms are explained casting doubts on validity and application

Question 21

2 How does CBT blame the patient?

Answer 21

Negative symptoms are said to be used by patients to protect against a world they perceive as harmful - choice rather than a pre-determined symptom