Psychological explanations for schizophrenia
Family dysfunction: links schiz to childhood and experiences of living in family
dysfunction.
Family dysfunction = processes within a family such as poor communications,
cold parenting or high levels of expressed emotion which may be risk factors
for both development and maintenance of schiz.
1 The schizophrenogenic mother: Reichmann proposed a psychodynamic
explanation for schiz based on accounts she heard from her parents about their
childhood. Many patients spoke of a particular parent – schizophrenogenic
mother meaning schizophrenia-causing. The schizophrenogenic mother is cold,
rejecting, controlling and creates a family climate characterised by tension and
secrecy. Leads to distrust that later develops into paranoid delusions (e.g.
delusions of persecution) and ultimately schiz.
2 double-blind theory: emphasised role of communication style within family.
Developing child regularly finds themselves fearing doing the wrong thing but
receive mixed messages about what this is and feel unable to seek clarification.
When they get it wrong they’re punished by withdrawal of love leaving them
with an understanding of world as confusing and dangerous which is reflected
in symptoms like disorganised thinking and paranoid delusions. But this is just a
risk factor.
3 Expressed emotion: negative emotion expressed towards a person w/ schiz
by their carer. This could include verbal criticism or hostility which is a serious
source of stress for many schizophrenic people. It can often explain relapse
rates. It also may be a source of stress that can trigger the onset of schiz in a
person who is already vulnerable due to their genetic makeup (diathesis-stress
Family dysfunction: links schiz to childhood and experiences of living in family
dysfunction.
Family dysfunction = processes within a family such as poor communications,
cold parenting or high levels of expressed emotion which may be risk factors
for both development and maintenance of schiz.
1 The schizophrenogenic mother: Reichmann proposed a psychodynamic
explanation for schiz based on accounts she heard from her parents about their
childhood. Many patients spoke of a particular parent – schizophrenogenic
mother meaning schizophrenia-causing. The schizophrenogenic mother is cold,
rejecting, controlling and creates a family climate characterised by tension and
secrecy. Leads to distrust that later develops into paranoid delusions (e.g.
delusions of persecution) and ultimately schiz.
2 double-blind theory: emphasised role of communication style within family.
Developing child regularly finds themselves fearing doing the wrong thing but
receive mixed messages about what this is and feel unable to seek clarification.
When they get it wrong they’re punished by withdrawal of love leaving them
with an understanding of world as confusing and dangerous which is reflected
in symptoms like disorganised thinking and paranoid delusions. But this is just a
risk factor.
3 Expressed emotion: negative emotion expressed towards a person w/ schiz
by their carer. This could include verbal criticism or hostility which is a serious
source of stress for many schizophrenic people. It can often explain relapse
rates. It also may be a source of stress that can trigger the onset of schiz in a
person who is already vulnerable due to their genetic makeup (diathesis-stress
