The genetic explanation

• Outline the genetic explanation for schizophrenia.

  The genetic explanation proposes that schizophrenia is inherited and therefore runs in families.
• Outline the genetic explanation for schizophrenia.

  When compared to the 1% risk of schizophrenia in the general population, suggests that the more genetics you share with someone who has schizophrenia, they more likely you are to develop it.MZ twins who share 100% of their genetics have a concordance rate of 48% for schizophrenia. Meanwhile, DZ twins who share 50% of their genetics have a concordance rate of 17% for schizophrenia.
• Outline the genetic explanation for schizophrenia.

  The explanation proposes that schizophrenia is polygenic, meaning it is caused by numerous genes.

  These genes are typically linked to dopamine, explaining why people with schizophrenia are often found to have abnormal dopamine activity.

  Each of these genes are proposed to increase the risk of developing schizophrenia by a small amount, and each person with schizophrenia can have different combinations of these genes.
• Evaluate the genetic explanation for schizophrenia: confounding variables.


  E.g. MZ twins may have higher concordance rates because they are always of the same sex and look more alike than DZ twins and so they are likely to share more similar experiences (e.g. receive the same level of criticism and control). This could explain why DZ twins have higher concordance rates than typical siblings despite sharing the same amount of genes (50%). This is a limitation because it suggests there might be an environmental rather than genetic cause for schizophrenia.
• Evaluate the genetic explanation for schizophrenia: further evidence that genetics do play a role in schizophrenia. 


  E.g. adoption studies have found that children of people with schizophrenia are at an increased risk of schizophrenia even if they are adopted into a family with no history of schizophrenia. This is a strength as it suggests that genetics, rather than environment, leads to schizophrenia.
• Evaluate the genetic explanation for

  schizophrenia: biologically deterministic. 


  This is because it proposes that schizophrenia is determined by genetics which are out of the individual’s control, so can result in feelings of hopelessness. This is a limitation as it can worsen their symptoms and lead to additional mental health difficulties such as depression. It can also lead to blaming within families whereby relatives may be blamed for passing on candidate genes. This can lead to hostility within families that can worsen schizophrenic symptoms.
• Evaluate the genetic explanation for

  schizophrenia: biologically reductionist. 


  This is because it explains the complex disorder of schizophrenia by reducing it down to genetics. This is a limitation because it fails to consider the impact of additional factors in the development of schizophrenia e.g. a dysfunctional family environment. Indeed, many psychologists now use the diathesis-stress model which proposes that schizophrenia can only develop if you have a combination of factors (e.g. a vulnerability such as genetic predisposition and a stressor such as family dysfunction).