Interactionist Explanation

• Diathesis-stress model


  Proposes that SZ is the result of a combination of psychological, biological and environmental factors
• Diathesis


  A vulnerability or tendency to develop a disorder

  - the idea that there is a biological component
• Stress


  Stressful life events that may trigger schizophrenia
• Examples of stressors associated with SZ

  - childhood trauma

  - daily hassles

  - life events

  - cannabis use

  - living in an urban environment
• Tienari et al

  Conducted an adoption study and the parenting style of the adoptive parents was assessed

  - in high EE families, there were more cases of SZ but only in people with a genetic risk
• Issue with Tienari et al's study

  Parenting style was only assessed in one time period so not valid across the child's life
• Negative evaluation: simplicity

  Original understanding of diathesis is too simple and only focused on genes. It has now been revised to include early brain trauma such as problems with birth/pregnancy
• Negative evaluation: urban environments

  - Urban environments may not be more stressful

  - there may be a 'downward drift': people with psychological conditions may move to the city to get help
• Positive evaluation

  Combinations of antipsychotics and psychological therapies are most effective

  - however we need to be aware of the treatment-causation fallacy