Describe the social psychological explanations of schizophrenia 10 marks
Socio-cultural factors A01
Point
Urbanicity - Urban areas are areas such as cities which are heavily built up. Whereas rural areas are
areas that have high levels of land and have a slower pace of day-to-day life (such as
Cornwall or Yorkshire)
- Individuals who live in urban areas for their first year of life have a 2x increased risk of
developing schizophrenia.
- Van os suggests that this is due to the pace of day to day living in cities, due to the pace of
work life.
- There is also heightened noise levels due to nightlife activity, and potential overcrowding as
well as an increased access to drugs
- This causes advanced stress or pressure on the biological predisposition of sz and may act
as a trigger.
Social isolation - Schizophrenias report that they have fewer close relationships and friends, this may be due
to the fact that they struggle to communicate with others when experiencing poverty of
speech.
- They are also more likely to have smaller social networks are retreat back into their house
which causes isolation. This is an example of social withdrawal and may result in the sz not
seeing friends and family.
- Cannot determine whether they are experiencing symptoms or reality as have no one to
reinforce that they are experiencing symptoms.
- Jones – longitudinal study found that children who enjoyed solidary play developed
schizophrenia.
Ethnicity and - Afro- Caribbean individuals are 7x more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia (in
discrimination 1950’s)
- This is due to the fact that they immigrated into the country (such as due to Windrush)
- Immigrants face advanced stressors due to moving countries and having to move house,
this causes advanced pressure on them which can trigger the development of schizophrenia
- Family or next generation of immigrants are also more likely to develop schizophrenia as
face discrimination and racism in the form of blocked opportunities and hate crimes which
increase the stress of day to day living and combined with urbanicity can increase the risk of
developing sz.
- Also a suggesting that psychiatry may also be deemed to be racist due to the fast number of
ethnic minorities that are diagnose with sz.
Graae - Found that individuals with a history of migration had an increased risk of developing sz
Dysfunctional families A01
Point
Double bind - Suggested by Baetson, believe that positive symptoms of schizophrenia are developed due
to the lack of communications between parents and the child.
- This suggests parents fail to adequately communicate with their children and remain cold
and distant with them
- Can lead to them experiencing positive symptoms such as hallucinations
- They face reciprocal complementariness, this is where the verbal cue or action such as
Socio-cultural factors A01
Point
Urbanicity - Urban areas are areas such as cities which are heavily built up. Whereas rural areas are
areas that have high levels of land and have a slower pace of day-to-day life (such as
Cornwall or Yorkshire)
- Individuals who live in urban areas for their first year of life have a 2x increased risk of
developing schizophrenia.
- Van os suggests that this is due to the pace of day to day living in cities, due to the pace of
work life.
- There is also heightened noise levels due to nightlife activity, and potential overcrowding as
well as an increased access to drugs
- This causes advanced stress or pressure on the biological predisposition of sz and may act
as a trigger.
Social isolation - Schizophrenias report that they have fewer close relationships and friends, this may be due
to the fact that they struggle to communicate with others when experiencing poverty of
speech.
- They are also more likely to have smaller social networks are retreat back into their house
which causes isolation. This is an example of social withdrawal and may result in the sz not
seeing friends and family.
- Cannot determine whether they are experiencing symptoms or reality as have no one to
reinforce that they are experiencing symptoms.
- Jones – longitudinal study found that children who enjoyed solidary play developed
schizophrenia.
Ethnicity and - Afro- Caribbean individuals are 7x more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia (in
discrimination 1950’s)
- This is due to the fact that they immigrated into the country (such as due to Windrush)
- Immigrants face advanced stressors due to moving countries and having to move house,
this causes advanced pressure on them which can trigger the development of schizophrenia
- Family or next generation of immigrants are also more likely to develop schizophrenia as
face discrimination and racism in the form of blocked opportunities and hate crimes which
increase the stress of day to day living and combined with urbanicity can increase the risk of
developing sz.
- Also a suggesting that psychiatry may also be deemed to be racist due to the fast number of
ethnic minorities that are diagnose with sz.
Graae - Found that individuals with a history of migration had an increased risk of developing sz
Dysfunctional families A01
Point
Double bind - Suggested by Baetson, believe that positive symptoms of schizophrenia are developed due
to the lack of communications between parents and the child.
- This suggests parents fail to adequately communicate with their children and remain cold
and distant with them
- Can lead to them experiencing positive symptoms such as hallucinations
- They face reciprocal complementariness, this is where the verbal cue or action such as
