interactionist approach - diathesis-stress model

Meehl 1962

developed the diathesis-stress model which is a major component of the interactionist approach

in the original model, diathesis was entirely genetic and the result of a single schizogene which led to development of biologically based schizotypal personality

one characteristic was sensitivity to distress

according to Meehl, people without the gene won’t develop sch regardless of stress but schizophrenogenic mother could develop it is the schizogene was present

the interactionist approach

acknowledges that there are biological, psychological and societal factors in the development of schizophrenia

bio factors include genetic vulnerability and neurochemical/neurological abnormality

psychological factors include stress, potentially from life events and daily hassles like poor quality interactions in the family

diathesis-stress model

theory was revised to take into account advances in genetics.

diathesis means vulnerability, with sch it means negative psychological experiences

so vulnerability to sch and a stress-trigger are necessary to develop the condition

development of the model

modern interpretations of D-S model take into account the current understanding that many genes are involved in the development of sch and there’s no one gene

the current version acknowledges a range of factors beyond genetics like psychological trauma which lead to the trauma becoming the diathesis rather than the stressor

why the model has changed

studies like Tienari et al. have helped psychologists see how the original D-S model is too simple. especially regarding the idea of a single schizogene and schizophrenic parenting style

how the model has changed

it’s now understood that multiple genes increase vulnerability, each having a small effect on its own

stress isn’t believed to be limited to dysfunctional parenting anymore, now we accept vulnerability can be from early trauma as well as genetic makeup and stress can come in many forms including bio

Houston et al.

childhood sexual trauma emerged as a vulnerability factor and cannabis was a trigger

this shows the old idea of diathesis as bio and stress psychological is overly simple

this is a problem with older form of D-S model but not new version