interactionist approach

Question 1

Interactionist approach

Answer 1

biological factors & psychological factors

Question 2

diathesis-stress model

Answer 2

• vulnerability to schizophrenia+ stress trigger = increased chance of schizophrenia

Question 3

diathesis-stress model: original hypothesis

Answer 3

• having a gene and chronic stress in childhood (such as a schizophrenogenic mother)= increased chance

Question 4

diathesis-stress model: modern understanding of diathesis

Answer 4

• many genes cause schizophrenia
• other factors other than genes makes someone vulnerable such as
  
  • early & severe trauma which affects the developing brain
  • affects stress system (hypothalamic pituitary adrenal pathway HPA)
  • makes someone vulnerable to later stress

Question 5

diathesis-stress model: modern understanding of stress

Answer 5

• stress isn’t just related to parenting but its a stress factor
• stress could be the use of THC rich cannabis
• most don’t develop schizophrenia because they don’t have the vulnerability factors
• high dose of THC-rich cannabis can trigger schizophrenia for those vulnerable

Question 6

AO3: evidence for the role of vulnerability & trigger (S)

Answer 6

Tienari et al (2004)
- looked at the combination genetic vulnerability & parenting style
- adopted children from 19,000 Finnish mothers with schizophrenia from 1960 & 1979 were followed up
- adoptive parents were assessed for child-rearing style & rates of schizophrenia
- child rearing style with low empathy & high criticism and conflict was found in development for children with high genetic risk
- suggest genetics & family stress are important with the development

Question 7

AO3: original diathesis-stress model is too simple (W)

Answer 7

• many genes cause schizophrenia and not just 1
• stress comes in various forms ( such as the use of cannabis)
• cause of vulnerability is also early trauma

Houston et al (2008): suggest that childhood sexual trauma is a vulnerability factor
- both suggests that vulnerability & stress don’t have one single cause
- idea that vulnerability is biological & stress is psychological is too simple

Question 8

AO3: real-world application - treatment (S)

Answer 8

Terrier et al (2004)
- 315 patients randomly allocated to either a) med & CBT b) meds & supportive counselling c) only meds
- patients in a & b showed lower symptom levels
- no difference in hospital re-admission
- shows clear advantage of using interactionist approach

Question 9

AO3: urbanisation (S)

Answer 9

• more cases of schizophrenia in urban areas
• used to justify interactionist approach as urban living is seen to be more stressful and can act as a trigger
• more likely that its diagnosed in cities
  
  • those vulnerable (teens abused as kids) tend to migrate to cities in looks for things such as jobs

Question 10

AO3: treatment - causation fallacy (W)

Answer 10

Jarvis & Okami (2019): says just because interactionist approach to treatment works doesn’t mean that it’s cause
- same as saying that because alcohol reduces shyness , its caused by a lack of alcohol