The interactionist approach to schizophrenia -A-Level Psychology
The interactionist approach
-considers that there are biological(genetic vulnerability,neurochemical/neurological abnormality),psychological(stress from life events and daily hassle,poor interactions in their family) and societal factors in the development of schizophrenia.
Explaining the interactionist approach:The diathesis-stress model
-diathesis =vulnerability.
-stress in this context is a negative psychological experience.
–says that both a vulnerability to schizophrenia and a stress-trigger are necessary for the condition to develop.
Meehl’s model
-in the original model ,diathesis was entirely genetic and the result of a single schizogene.
-this led to the development of a biologically based schizotypic personality.One characteristic is sensitivity to stress.
-Paul Meehl said that if a person doesn’t have the schizogene then no amount of stress would lead to schizophrenia.
-However ,in carriers of the gene,chronic stress through childhood and adolescence e.g a schizophrenogenic mother could result in the development of schizophrenia.
The modern understanding of diathesis
-It is now believed that many genes increase genetic vulnerability and that there is no single schizogene.
-include a range of factors beyond genes such as psychological trauma-so trauma becomes the diathesis rather than the stressor.
-Read et al proposed a neurodevelopmental model which early trauma affects the developing brain e.g the HPA system can become overactive,making the person much more vulnerable to later stress.
The modern understanding of stress
-in the original model stress was seen as psychological in nature e.g parenting.
-the modern definition includes anything that risks triggering schizophrenia(Houston et al).
-recent research has shown cannabis use can trigger an episode of schizophrenia as it is seen as a stressor as it interferes with the dopamine system,and increases the risk of schizophrenia by up to seven times.However most people do not develop schizophrenia after smoking cannabis so there may be one or more vulnerability factors.
Treatment according to the interactionist model:
-interactionist model of schizophrenia considers both biological and psychological factors so is compatible with both biological and psychological treatments.
-antipsychotic medication and CBT are combined.
-Turkington et al pointed out that it is possible to believe in biological causes of schizophrenia and still practice CBT to relieve psychological symptoms.
-however it is not possible to adopt a purely biological approach and to simultaneously treat them with CBT.
Evaluation:
Support for the effectiveness of combinations of treatment-Nicholas Tarrier et al randomly allocated 315 patients to a medication and CBT group,medication and supportive counselling or a control group.Patients in the two combination groups showed lower symptom levels than those in the control group(medication only).There was no difference in rates of hospital readmission.
Evidence for the role of vulnerability and triggers-Tienari et al found that child-rearing style characterised by high levels of criticism and low levels of empathy was implicated in the development of schizophrenia but only for the adopted children who had a high genetic risk and were adopted by Finnish mothers with schizophrenia but not in the adopted control group with no genetic risk.
The interactionist approach to schizophrenia suggests that the development and manifestation of schizophrenia are influenced by a complex interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors.
Biological factors that may contribute to the development of schizophrenia include genetic predisposition, brain abnormalities, and neurotransmitter imbalances.
Psychological factors that may contribute to the development of schizophrenia include cognitive impairments, emotional dysregulation, and maladaptive coping strategies.
Social factors that may contribute to the development of schizophrenia include social isolation, stressful life events, and socioeconomic disadvantage.
The interactionist approach differs from other approaches in that it considers the complex interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors, rather than focusing on one of these factors in isolation.
Yes, the interactionist approach can help us understand why different people experience schizophrenia differently by taking into account the unique combination of biological, psychological, and social factors that may be influencing the development and manifestation of the disorder in each individual.
No, the interactionist approach does not suggest that schizophrenia is entirely caused by environmental factors. Rather, it suggests that the development and manifestation of the disorder are influenced by a complex interplay between biological, psychological, and social factors.
The interactionist approach can inform the treatment of schizophrenia by highlighting the importance of addressing biological, psychological, and social factors in the development and manifestation of the disorder. Treatment approaches that take into account these factors may be more effective than approaches that focus on only one aspect of the disorder.
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