Psychological explanations of Schizophrenia

What is family dysfunction?

• A mother who is cold and rejecting

• Any form of abnormal processes within a family

• A specific, negative communication style

Which one of the following is NOT a characteristic of family dysfunction?

• High levels of interpersonal conflict

• Difficulties in communicating with other family members

• High amount of compliments given from parents to children

• Parents are highly critical and controlling towards children

What is a Schizophrenogenic mother?

• A mother who is controlling and is secretive which leads to distrust and paranoia

• A mother who is controlling but tells the truth which leads to aggression

• A mother who is controlling and creates a tense family environment but always resolves conflicts

• A mother who is overly pleasant which creates a false sense of security in the child

Which of the following is a criticism of the Schizophrenogenic mother explanation?

• Outdated and invalid

• Socially sensitive and unethical

• Outdated and unethical

• Outdated and socially sensitive

Why is the Schizophrenogenic mother explanation considered socially sensitive?

• It only focusses on mothers

• It was created too long ago

• It blames mothers for causing Schizophrenia

• Not enough evidence has been collected to support the explanation

What have researchers such as Brown (1958) concluded about expressed emotion?

• It is more important in the maintenance of Sz rather than the cause

• It is more important for causing Sz than maintaining it

• It is not relevant to Sz in modern times

• It only explains the cause of Sz in males

What does the double-bind theory propose about the onset of Sz?

• Children who have siblings with Sz

• A negative emotional family climate with a hostile communication style

• Children who receive a clear message on how to behave develop Sz

• Children who receive contradictory messages about the right behaviour develop Sz

According to the double-bind theory, why is receiving contradictory messages about appropriate behaviour a problem?

• The child fears doing the wrong thing but doesn't know what that is so has a confusing view of the world

• The child fears doing the wrong thing but doesn't know what that is so they will sit quietly waiting to be told

• The child fears doing the wrong thing but receives clear messages as to what that is so has a secure view of the world

According to Tiernari (2004), what percentage of children developed Sz if they were adopted into dysfunctional families?

• 5.8%

• 38.6%

• 36.8%

• 8.5%

Why does Tienari's research support the family dysfunction explanation?

• It shows that family dysfunction does play a role in the onset of Sz if the individual has a genetic predisposition

• It shows that family dysfunction does play a role in the onset of Sz if the individual does not have a genetic predisposition

• It shows that biological explanations are important for the onset of Sz