Psychological Explanations

Question 1

Explain Fromm-Reichmann (1948)’s theory of the schizophrenogenic mother.

Answer 1

This is a psychodynamic explanation.

Based on her observation of patients, she found a pattern amongst the mothers. The mother is cold, rejecting and controlling, and creates a tense, secretive family environment. This leads to distrust that eventually develops into paranoid delusions (of persecution).

Question 2

Explain the double-bind theory.

Answer 2

It argues that poor family COMMUNICATION also plays a role. The child is scared about making a mistake, receives mixed messages, are unable to comment or seek clarification. When they make a mistake, they are punished. The child views the world as confusing and dangerous, leading to paranoia and disorganised thinking.

Question 3

Explain expressed emotion.

Answer 3

This refers to the level of (negative) emotion that is expressed towards a person. This can include criticism, hostility, emotional overinvolvement, anger, rejection. This causes stress and could trigger schizophrenia (diathesis-stress). It could also lead to a relapse.

Question 4

Explain dysfunctional thinking.

Answer 4

This is information processing that doesn’t reflect the reality. Schiz causes a disruption to noral thought processing.
- Reduced activity in VENTRAL STRATIUM = negative symptoms
- TEMPORAL/CINGULATE GYRUS = hallucinations
Cognitive deficits/impairments

Question 5

Explain metarepresentation dysfunction (Frith et al)

Answer 5

This is when we reflect on our thoughts and behaviours, and interpret the actions of others. Schizophrenics are unable to recognise their own actions and thoughts; this explains hallucinations or delusions as happening from outside a person’s control.

Question 6

Explain central control dysfunction.

Answer 6

They are unable to suppress automatic responses; this explains derailment of thoughts because each word triggers associations and the person cannot suppress these.

Question 7

Evaluate psychological explanations of schizophrenia.

Refer to Read et al.

Answer 7

Read et al found that:

• schizophrenic adults are disproportionately likely to have insecure attachment
• the majority of women and men with schizo. have history of physical/sexual abuse

this shows that family dysfunction causes a vulnerability to schizophrenia

BUT there is no systematic evidence for the traditional explanations like schizo mother and double bind. they are simply based on observations

Question 8

Evaluate cognitive explanations of schizophrenia. Refer to Stirling et al.

Answer 8

Stirling used the STROOP test to show congnitive function. PPs had to suppress the automatic response of reading out the word, instead had to say the colour. Compared schizo with non schizo. Schizos took twice as long to complete the tasks supporting CENTRAL CONTROL.

cognitive explanations do not explain what initially caused the condition (distal). they only offer proximal explanation of what the symptoms are NOW. this means it is only a partial explanation.