Social Drift Theory

• psychological explanation of schizophrenia
• claims people diagnosed with schizophrenia are more likely to be lower class
• argues that schizophrenia causes people to drift down to bottom of society, in extreme cases ending with homelessness
• early symptom of schizophrenia is withdrawal from society, and things important to most people become less important to them. eg jobs
• another reason for theory is that schizophrenics are rejected by society bc of discrimination and stigma so might find it hard to get a job
• rejection from society can start cycle that sends schizophrenic down a spiral
• criticisms?

  * problems establishing cause and effect bc schizophrenia and social class might not be linked

  * lower class might just be more likely to be diagnosed bc of middle class psychologist bias

  * focuses too much on wider society and ignores role of family environment