Importance of an Interactionist Perspective when for Schizo

• Describe the interactionist perspective when explaining schizophrenia

  Many critics have argued that the biological and psychological explanations of schizophrenia are too reductionist as one factor alone (e.g. family dysfunction) is often found to not result in schizophrenia. As a result, many have emphasized the importance of an interactionist perspective when explaining schizophrenia.
• What are the factors of the interactionist perspective when explaining schizophrenia

  • Biological factors could include a genetic predisposition, abnormal dopamine functioning etc.

  • Psychological factors could include dysfunctional thought processing such as dysfunctional metarepresentation and central control.

  • Social factors could include family dysfunction, academic pressure, breakdown of a relationship etc.
• Descrive The diathesis stress model:

  To further explain the interactionist perspective when explaining schizophrenia, researchers propose a diathesis-stress model. The

  diathesis-stress model proposes that schizophrenia can develop if an individual has an internal vulnerability to developing schizophrenia

  (the diathesis component) as well as an external stress trigger (the stress component).
• Describe The original diathesis-stress model:

  In the original diathesis-stress model, diathesis (vulnerability) was entirely genetic. According to this model, if a person does not have a candidate gene for schizophrenia, then no amount of stress would lead to its onset. Those with a candidate gene for schizophrenia, on the other hand, could develop the disorder if they experienced a stress trigger such as the presence of a schizophrenogenic mother.
• Describe the modern diathesis-stress model

  More modern views of diathesis (vulnerability), however, go beyond just a genetic vulnerability to incorporate a range of possible factors. For example, an individual may be considered to be at an increased vulnerability to developing schizophrenia if they experienced childhood trauma. This is because it may have affected their brain development which could make them more vulnerable to stress. Meanwhile, stress could include anything that risks triggering schizophrenia such as cannabis use, breakdown of a relationship, family dysfunction etc.
• Evaluate the importance of an interactionist perspective when explaining schizophrenia

  • it has received supporting evidence from Gottesman
  • there is evidence to support the dual role of genetics and family dysfunction in the development of schizophrenia
  • that it has resulted in positive implications for the treatment
  • it lacks explanatory power of vulnerability and stress power