Psychological Explanations for Schizophrenia.

Family Relationships.

Disturbed communication patterns are a factor in development of schizophrenia.

Schizophrenogenic Families describes families with high emotional tension.

Double Bind Hypothesis (Bateson et al). Children given conflicting messages. Parents express care but appear critical, leading to self doubt and withdrawal.

Marital Schism (lidz et al). Explains abnormal family pattern. Discord between parents associated with schizophrenia in offspring.

Evaluation.

Theories based on flawed studies.

Did not include control groups and used poorly operationalised definitions of schizophrenia.

Families studied retrospectively, long after the disorder has affected family.

Living with a sufferer is difficult and distressing. Routines are disrupted and care needed.

To suggest families caused disorder is unhelpful and destructive.

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