A star graded essay plans on questions surrounding schizophrenia. primarily useful in paper 3 psychology but also applicable to other papers. Each essay plan is written in an easy to understand table format which is clearly labelled. The tables are used to ensure that all criteria is met in the exa...
Describe the individual differences explanations of schizophrenia 10 marks
Cognitive functions
Point
Hallucinations - Frith suggests that sz misattribute their inner voice to the wider world (cannot recognise
what is reality and what is not).
- This can lead to them believing that auditory hallucinations that they are experiencing are
hostile (believe that the voices that they are hearing are hostile such as “these people are
going to hurt me/you”
- When they experience these symptoms it can lead to the sz’s becoming fearful or feeling
ashamed and may result in the development of negative symptoms such as avolition.
- Hallucinations are an example of maladaptive perceptions
Compromised - Frith again, this is where the sz misunderstands their own thought process.
theory of mind - Suggests that cognitive impairments are related to a faulty theory of mind
- This is due to a disconnection between the frontal areas of the brain (bio disposition) that
are responsible for perceptions and actions
- Can lead to the development of disordered thoughts such as thought insertion.
- E.g being inserted by aliens
Lack of - Suggests that sz cannot focus their attention on specific areas as cannot block out or filter
preconscious out background information.
filter - This is known as attention deficit theory.
- Suggested by bental
- This leads to the development of an attention bias as cannot filter out irrelevant
information effectively.
- They are more likely to perceive a stimulus as threatening.
- May link to paranoid delusions
Use of Stroop - Used to investigate the lack of preconscious filter.
test - Given a selection of coloured words such as the word blue.
- Sz asked to read what the color the word is stating, as requires them to filter out the color
of the words which they cannot do.
Psychodynamic explanation
Point
Oral stage of - Freud suggest that sz cannot progress past the oral stage of childhood development ( the
development first of the 5 psychosexual stages).
- Oral stage means that the ego fails to develop, so the id remains dominant
- Can lead to positive symptoms such as hallucinations as the id creates an alternative
reality
- If the superego develops and reigns, can lead to the development of delusions of
grandeur.
Ego defence - The unconscious mind aims to prevent the individual from being hurt when experiencing
mechanisms trauma or conflict between the id,ego and superego.
- Regress back to the oral stage
- Can lead to the development of disordered thoughts or hallucinations
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