family dysfunction

• family dysfunction 


  abnormal processes within a family such as poor communication and high levels of expressed emotion which can make individuals vulnerable to schizophrenia
• schizophrenogenic mother - reichman

  negative stereotype associated with mothers of individuals who develop schizophrenia

  • implies mothers have induced the illness in their children
  • literally means ‘schizophrenia causing’
  • tends to create a tense family climate
  • they are cold, critical and controlling - leads to distrust which later develops into paranoia and ultimately schizophrenia
• double blind theory - bateson

  suggests when a child receives contradictory signals and messages from parents in childhood, it causes paranoia and delusions by affecting the child’s perception of reality
• expressed emotion 


  levels on negative emotion expressed towards a patient by their family

  includes:

  • criticism
  • hostility
  • emotional over involvement which leads to excessive self sacrifice
• X gender bias - blaming mother - socially sensitive

  • ethical issues - blaming family - doesn’t protect individuals from harm
• X unclear if schizophrenia causes these factors or the factors cause schizophrenia