interationist approach

Question 1

What is the interactionist approach to schz?

Answer 1

Explains behaviour in a range of factors: biological, social, psychological
Factors interact with each other

Question 2

What is the diathesis-stress model?
Example

Answer 2

Diathesis=vulnerability to a disorder
Stress (*have to define aswell)=life event that triggers the disorder
*Both are needed to develop schz
E.g. inherit schz from mum (diathesis) triggered once they’re involved in abusive relationship (stress)

Question 3

What are the 2 versions of the diathesis stress models?

Answer 3

Original model (Meehl’s model)
Updated model (Neurodevelopmental model)

Question 4

What causes diathesis in each of the 2 models?

Answer 4

Original:
Genetic- result of a ‘schizogene’>sensitive personality
Updated:
Genetic- polygenic (many genes increase vulnerability)
Psychological- childhood trauma e.g. abuse, seriously affects the brain e.g. HPA system (fight or flight), makes brain overactive later in life

Question 5

What causes stress in each of the 2 models?

Answer 5

Orginal:
Psychological- stress e.g. schizophrenogenic mother
Updated:
Psychological- stress e.g. schizophrenogenic mother
Biological- stress e.g. from smoking cannabis

Question 6

One strength of the interactionist approach is that there’s research support
PET

Answer 6

E: Found that children from adopted families who had biological mums (diathesis) with schz were more likely to develop schz themselves, only if adopted family upbringing was apathetic, critical (stress)
T: Supports diathethesis stress model, increases credibility

Question 7

One weakness of the interactionist approach is that the original model is too simplistic
PET

Answer 7

E: Only 1 schizogene and stress in only from schizophrenogenic mother
T: Outdated model, cannot fully explain the development of schz

Question 8

One strength of the interactionist approach is that there’s real world application
PETC

Answer 8

E: Treats schz through a combination of drug therapy, CBT, family therapy, token economy
UK uses this approach, not the USA who only uses 1
T: Boosts economy and QoL
C: Costly for the NHS to use a combination, and impractical as therapists are understaffed

Question 9

One strength of the interactionist approach is that it’s holistic
PET

Answer 9

E: Combines and accounts for a range of factors in causing schz: biological, psychological, social
T: Realistic explanation, captures the complexity of the mental illness

Question 10

One strength of the interactionist approach is that it stands in the middle of the nature and nurture debate
PET

Answer 10

E: Acknowledges both nature (diathesis) and nurture (stress)
T: Realistic explanation, captures the complexity of the mental illness