family dysfunction

• Intro

  • develops sz have they have been raised in a dysfunctional family environment. In the way that they communicate with each other as high levels of tension and arguments. Results in creating risk factors for the development and maintenance of sz
• Schizophrenogenic mother

  • idea that sz is caused by early experience of a schizophrenogenic mother.
  • mother is cold, controlling, rejecting, emotionally unresponsive and builds a family climate characterised by tension and secrecy
  • leads to distrust later developments into paranoid delusions in schizophrenia. Father is often passive
• Double bind communication

  • sz due to faulty communication patterns that exist within families
  • communication is double bind; occurs when the parent communicates a verbal message which is not matched with their non-verbal message, child receives mixed messages
  • e.g. father loving but emotionally rejecting, becoming rigid when child shows affection
  • conflicting, confusing forms of communication can cause sz. Child feels cant do right thing so becomes increasingly anxious, leading to avoiding social contact - signs of avolition
• Expressed emotion

  High levels of expressed emotion such as,

  • Verbal criticism and occasional violence towards the patient
  • Hostility towards the patient, including anger and rejection
  • Emotional over-involvement in their life
  • can cause stress in the patient and the constant harassment from the family can trigger onset schizophrenia.
• A03

  • :) - prac apps, treatment of family therapy, reduces stress help prevent relapse, important part of applied psychology
  • :( - alternative explanation - biological. due to high levels of dopamine in central areas, e.g. brocas area = auditory hallucinations, weakens family dysfunction