Schizophrenia: individual differences

(1) Psychodynamic explanations

A01: Oral stage

• During the oral stage (birth to 18mths) pleasure is associated via the mouth via eating, sucking, kissing ect. If the child’s needs are over met (overindulgence) or under met (frustration) the child can become fixated at this stage.

• Freud suggested those with schizophrenia become fixated at the oral stage in the first 2 months.

• Most people overcome fixation at the oral stage by satisfying oral needs via kissing, smoking ect. However, it was noted that experiencing stress can result in the individual regressing back to the oral stage (via ego defence mechanism of regression). This results in the individuals ego regressing back to an earlier stage which weakens it making it almost non existent. As a result, the id is given free rein which can create delusions/hallucinations, making it difficult for the individual to distinguish between fantasy/delusions/reality. It can also result in narcissistic behaviour leading to delusions of grandeur.

A01: schizophrenogenic mother

• Research has found mothers of individuals with schizophrenia were controlling/overprotective but also distant/rejecting. The mothers overprotectiveness stifles the child’s emotional development meanwhile the mothers distance damages child’s sense of personal security resulting in the individual being very insecure. As a result, this leave the individual very vulnerable to stress. This creates an individual who is resentful/fearful of others which explains delusions of persecution.

A03:

✅ Kasanin et al looked at hospital case records of schizophrenics and found 33/45 had maternal overprotective/controlling mothers. This supports the idea of the schizophenogenic mother.

BUT.. this means 1/3 of cases did not have a controlling mother which makes this explanation less convincing. Also researcher was not blind to their own aims so it’s possible information was interpreted to fit own hypothesis.

❌ Non scientific: Concepts such as Freuds oral stage and the id, ego and superego are very difficult to prove, measure and test. This means they can’t be falsified which makes it difficult to apply.

BUT.. just because a concept is difficult to test/measure doesn’t make it irrelevant

✅ ATMOM: Rosen found that psychoanalysis is effective to use with those with schizophrenia.

However, strupp et al argued it’s infective to use as it can worsen the symptoms of schizophrenia.

For a theory to be deemed as effective/insightful there must be a therapy that is successful derived from the principles of such theory in treating psychological disorders. Freud himself noted that psychoanalysis isn’t suitable for schizophrenics as they lack insight.

(2) cognitive explanations

A01: Explaining positive symptoms: Morrison

• Most common symptom of schizophrenia is hallucinations (unrealistic perceptions that can manifest in many ways). The most common hallucination is auditory hallucinations.

• Morrison argued maladaptive thinking can explain auditory hallucinations. Suggested sleep deprivation, stress and certain drugs can result

A01: Explaining positive symptoms: Frith

A01: Explaining negative symptoms: Beck