Social Psych Exp Sociocultural Factors

Question 1

What are the 4 main sociocultural factors

Answer 1

Life events
Urbanicity
Social isolation
Ethnicity and discrimination

Question 2

The 4 main factors are…..

Answer 2

All triggers to onset of SZ

Question 3

Hwo do Life events trigger the onset of SZ?

Answer 3

Stressful/ traumatic life events trigger the onset of SZ
Link to changes in NT levels in the brain- potential link to DA
Brown and birley found that approximately 50% of people experienced a major life event in the 3 weeks prior to a SZ episode. 12% of people reported one in 9 weeks prior to the episode

Question 4

How does urbanicity trigger the onset of SZ?

Answer 4

Urban living doesn’t suit evolutionary traits
Higher rates of MH and SZ compared to rural areas
Likely due to environmental factors such as pollution/ overcrowding/ drug abuse/ exposure to toxins
All of these contribute to an increase in social stress levels= triggers of SZ

Question 5

How does social isolation trigger SZ

Answer 5

Individual doesn’t get feedback about inappropriate thoughts and behaviours.
Allows the individual to nurture these inappropriate ways of thinking and behaving and do the strange behaviour can flourish- leading to them becoming resistant to change even when shown evidence.
The symptoms get worse

Question 6

How does ethnicity and discrimination lead to SZ

Answer 6

Stress of migrating may be a cause
Higher rates in children due to discrimination and discriminatory behaviour
Discrimination in society can lead to social isolation and urbanicity becoming more likely.
Discrimination in psychological diagnosis may occur due to in being a predominantly white male field