Psychological explanations for schizophrenia 2

1. Psychological explanations for schizophrenia 2 Pages 206-207 of Year 2 book Link to Specification 4.5.3 Cognitive explanations, including dysfunctional thought processing.

2. Complete Maher Card Sort PSYB3

3. Cognitive explanation • Schizophrenia is characterised by disturbance in language, attention, thought and perception. • This has led to cognitive psychologists to explain the disorder as a result of dysfunctional thought processing. • Lower then usual levels of processing (possibly caused by biological factors) suggest that cognition is likely to be impaired

4. Christopher Frith (1992) • Frith suggested that schizophrenics fail to monitor their own thoughts correctly, misattributing them to the outside world. Firth identified two kinds of Dysfunctional Thought Processing: • Metarepresentaion -The cognitive ability to reflect on thought and behaviours. • Central Control – The cognitive ability to suppress autonomic responses while we perform deliberate actions.

5. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vvU-Ajwbok

6. The Stroop Effect • People with Schizophrenia find the Stroop task difficult because it requires cognitive skills. • Check it out and have a go! https://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/words.html#seffect • Use your textbook to write a paragraph explaining how the activity links to cognitive explanation of central control thought processes. You should refer to the study by Stirling et al (2006) in your answer.

7. Evaluation – AO3 • Describes processes / maintenance of the disorder • Focuses on the current cognitions • Plenty of research into the idea • Influential and popular model • Includes biological and the psychological • Empirical evidence to support • Empowers the individual to change • No explanation of what causes these cognitive changes • Some cognitive explanations relate to specific subtypes • Unscientific • Blaming the individual can make the disorder worse • Is thinking irrational? • Which is the cause? Which is the effect? Symptom or explanation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRfzx8L7a30

8. Conclusion – AO3 • Genetic factors or adverse conditions in the womb can lead to a biological vulnerability and this can take the form of biochemical or neuroanatomical abnormalities ↓ • The biological vulnerability can lead to psychological vulnerability such as an inability to process information appropriately ↓ • Cognitive processing deficits can lead to cognitive distortions, misattributions and hyper-arousal ↓ • These cognitive difficulties can become exacerbated by stressful life events and therefore could go on to produce some of the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia such as delusions and hallucinations ↓ • The role of social factors in triggering dysfunctional thinking needs to be explored

9. Complete handout 8.9 PSYB3

10. Essay Outline and evaluate cognitive explanations for schizophrenia. Refer to at least one other explanation in your evaluation. (16 marks)

11. Essay Paul has the belief that he is being constantly watched by people who are out to get him. He often hears voices. For example, one is the slow, deep voice of an elderly man who angrily states, ‘You’re worthless. You’re going to be found out!’ With reference to Paul, discuss cognitive explanations for schizophrenia (16 marks)

12. Essay Compare biological and cognitive explanations for schizophrenia. Refer to evidence in your response (16 marks)

13. Homework Ensure you have written up your class notes to include the following: • A definition of cognitive explanations • An explanation of what is meant by dysfunctional thought processing • Examples of dysfunctional thought processing • Evaluation of cognitive explanations of schizophrenia