Individual Differences explanation 2 - Psychodynamic Flashcards
(22 cards)
What is the A01 Content?
- Fixation and regression
- The schizophrenic mother
- Application - Psychoanalysis
- What is meant but the term regression?
When an individual is regressed back to an earlier stage of their development in response to stress. They may regress to a stage they were fixated at.
- What psychosexual stage is linked to schizophrenia?
The Oral Stage, suggests that schizophrenics regress back to this and become like a new born due to being fixated at this stage.
What was the personality like an infant like?
All ID, no ego or super ego present. The infant is self centred and with no ego to keep the id in check. The infant is focused on their own gratification with no care for others. Can’t see actions as wrong, can’t engage with reality.
What did Freud argue in terms of schizophrenics and regression?
He suggested that schizophrenics regress back to the oral stage (new born state) and are more focused on themselves. They are disengaged from reality and have delusions.
Who developed the theory of the schizophrenic mother?
Freida Fromm-Reichmann
Outline the theory of the schizophrenic mother.
The idea that the mothers of schizophrengenics are over controlling and overprotective whilst also being emotionally cold and inconsistent. She may try and control every aspect of the child life but seem at times loving and others rejecting. Child doesnt develop a clear sense of trust or safety.
How does the theory of ‘schizophrenic mother’ explain schizophrenia?
Brought up in a confusing emotional, environment can bring symptoms of schz about. The double bind leaves them confused and disconnected from reality.
- Application - What did Freud suggest about Psychoanalysis.
He suggested that there was no point trying to treat schizophrenics with talk based therapy. They are out of touch with reality and therefore trying to challenge what’s real and not would prove difficult.
What did Rosen et al do?
Advocated for therapy where patients were brutally confronted with the nature of their own problems. The therapist would encourage this regression but would then take on the role of parenting that individual so they could return to adulthood with a redevelopment of the ego and reconnecting them with reality.
Evalaution - Research support
Use Freida -Fromm Reichmmann and schizophrenic mother. Her research on schizophrenics and how they reported being involved with difficult relationships with their mother.
Evaluation - Support
Does have some explanatory power and explains some symptoms e.g., hallucinations are thoughts that have been repressed which can resurface. They create delusions to protect themselves from the anxiety of the real world, defends the ego.
Evaluation - Methodology
Psychodynamic theories are unscientific and untestable. Based on ideas such as tripartite personality which have little research to support them.
Evaluation - Issue with Freuds research
He only did research on a single schizophrenic it is a complex disorder that many people suffer from differently so generalisability is poor. Freud may have been biased to his theories. He spent little time with actual schizophrenics.
Evaluation - Failure to produce an effective treatment.
Freud believed that psycho analysis was effective in treating patients therefore suggests that theories are not valid. Anti-psychotic drugs have been deemed more useful which supports a biological basis.
Evaluation - Strupp et al
Found that psycho analytic therapies can lead to deterioration and harm to the patient rather than any beneficial effects. They require the patient to experience memories and thoughts they are emotionally incapable of dealing with therefore distressing the patient.
Evaluation - If no effective treatment is devised what does that suggest about the therapy?
That the underlying principles have no merit and is invalid.
Evaluation - Evaluation of schizophrengenic mother
There is some evidence that poor familiy relationships have an effect on schizophrenia but little evidence for the mother playing a social role.
Evaluation - What did Wild et al find?
He found that it was the fathers of schizophrenics rather than the mother who plays the dominant role.
Evaluation - Issue of cause and effect for schz mother.
Having a schizophrenic child could cause the mother to respond and treat to that child in a more distant and cold manner. Children who develop schizophrenia later in life are difficult and it is hard for the mother to bond with them.
Evaluation of schz mother - Genain quadruplets
Identical female quadruplets all developed schizophrenia but all had different experiences. However, mother was described as emotionally unavailable and overbearing. In support of this theory.
Evaluation - Overlooks the role of genetics
Can not explain why schizophrenia develops later on rather than in childhood, fixation at the oral stage occurs in a young age so why does it take so long to present. Ignores the roles of genes with has strong evidence e.g., Gottesman
