Psychological explanations for schizophrenia

• What does the schizophrenogenic mother theory suggest about the cause of schizophrenia?

  It suggests that schizophrenia can be caused by mothers who are cold, rejecting, and controlling.
• How does a cold and rejecting mother affect children according to the schizophrenogenic mother theory?

  It creates a family environment filled with tension and secrecy, leading to feelings of distrust in children.
• What psychological issues may arise in children from a schizophrenogenic mother?

  Children may develop paranoid delusions and, eventually, schizophrenia.
• Why has the schizophrenogenic mother theory been largely discredited?

  Due to a lack of empirical evidence and the stigma it creates around mothers.
• Who introduced the double-bind theory and in what year?

  Bateson et al. introduced the double-bind theory in 1972.
• What does the double-bind theory suggest about family communication?

  It suggests schizophrenia may develop when children receive conflicting messages from their parents.
• How might a child experience confusion according to the double-bind theory?

  A child might be told to be independent but punished for doing so.
• What are the consequences of conflicting messages in family communication according to the double-bind theory?

  This leads to disorganized thinking and delusions, as the child learns to view the world as confusing and unsafe.
• What is expressed emotion (EE) in the context of family dynamics?

  EE refers to the negative emotions expressed by family members, such as criticism, hostility, and emotional over-involvement.
• How is high expressed emotion (EE) related to schizophrenia relapse?

  High levels of EE are linked to relapse in patients with schizophrenia.
• What effect does a stressful environment have on patients with schizophrenia?

  It may worsen symptoms and trigger psychotic episodes.
• What is a debated point regarding high expressed emotion (EE) in families of schizophrenia patients?

  Some argue that high EE might be a response to the symptoms of schizophrenia, rather than a cause.
• What do cognitive explanations suggest about schizophrenia?

  They suggest that schizophrenia is linked to impaired thinking and faulty brain processing.
• Which area of the brain is associated with negative symptoms of schizophrenia according to cognitive explanations?

  The ventral striatum is linked to negative symptoms such as lack of motivation (avolition).
• What is metarepresentation in the context of schizophrenia?

  Metarepresentation is the ability to reflect on our own thoughts and behavior.
• How does dysfunction in metarepresentation lead to symptoms of schizophrenia according to Frith et al.?

  It leads to hallucinations or delusions, such as hearing voices or thoughts being placed in their mind.
• What is central control in relation to schizophrenia?

  Central control is the ability to suppress automatic responses.
• How does central control relate to speech poverty in schizophrenia according to Frith et al.?

  Schizophrenia leads to speech poverty because patients cannot suppress automatic associations triggered by words.
• What are the key theories related to the causes of schizophrenia discussed in the material?

  • Schizophrenogenic Mother Theory
  • Double-Bind Theory
  • Expressed Emotion (EE)
  • Cognitive Explanations
• What are the main criticisms of the theories discussed regarding schizophrenia?

  • Lack of empirical evidence for the schizophrenogenic mother theory
  • Debated causal link in double-bind theory
  • High EE may be a response rather than a cause
  • Cognitive explanations lack comprehensive understanding of all symptoms