The Dysfunctional Family Explanation

Question 1

Which researcher put forward the double bind theory?

Answer 1

Bateson (1956)

Question 2

What does the double bind theory believe?

Answer 2

Mother’s paralanguage and verbal language is contradictory.
Simultaneously loving and approaching yet hostile and withdrawing.

Question 3

What is the result of the mother’s contradictory behaviour?

Answer 3

Child placed under stress as it is a no-win situation.
Due to the confusing internal conflict, child expresses symptoms such as referential delusions, mutism and apathy.

Question 4

State 2 strengths of the Dysfunctional families explanation.

Answer 4

Berger (1960) - found in interviews with schizophrenics that there were more double bind statements.

Mischler and Waxler (1968) - Mother’s communication with schizophrenics daughters was aloof and unresponsive.

Question 5

State 2 weaknesses of the Dysfunctional Family explanation.

Answer 5

Ignores internal factors such as dopamine (Falkai et al, 1988)/ genetics (Torey, 1992).

Hard to falsify and therefore establish cause and effect; not scientific.