13.2.14

Evaluation of the Interactionist Approach

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Tienari et al. (2004)

There is evidence to support the dual role of vulnerability and stress in the development of schizophrenia.

Research method

Research method

  • Tienari et al. (2004) investigated the combination of genetic vulnerability and parenting style as a trigger.
  • They studied children adopted from 19,000 Finnish mothers with schizophrenia between 1960 and 1979.
  • Their adoptive parents were assessed for child rearing style.
  • Then the rates of schizophrenia were compared to those in a control group of adoptees without any genetic risk.
Research findings

Research findings

  • Tienari found that the child rearing style characterised by high levels of criticism and conflict and lower levels of empathy was implicated in the development of schizophrenia.
  • But this was only true of children with high genetic risk and not for children in the control group.
Study conclusions

Study conclusions

  • The Tienari et al. (2004) study provides direct support for the importance of adopting an interactionist approach to schizophrenia, including the idea that poor parenting is a possible source of stress.
  • It also proves that the original diathesis-stress model is too simple, certainly in respect of a single schizogene and a schizophrenic parenting style.

Evaluation of the Interactionist Approach

The interactionist approach has been proven to be both useful and applicable.

Strengths

Strengths

  • The interactionist approach has been proven to be both useful and applicable.
  • By comparing the effectiveness of combinations of biological and psychological treatments of schizophrenia versus biological treatment alone, studies have provided evidence to support adopting an interactionist approach to treatment of schizophrenia.
  • This shows an advantage to using a combination of treatments for schizophrenia.
Weaknesses

Weaknesses

  • Turkington et al. argue that there is a logical fit between the interactionist approach and using combination treatments.
  • But the fact that combined biological and psychological treatments are more effective than either on their own does not necessarily mean that the interactionist approach to schizophrenia is correct.
  • Similarly, the fact that drugs help does not mean that schizophrenia is biological in origin. This error of logic is called the treatment causation fallacy.
Further development

Further development

  • There is strong evidence to suggest that some sort of underlying vulnerability coupled with stress can lead to schizophrenia.
  • We also have well-informed suggestions for how vulnerabilities and stress might lead to symptoms.
  • But we do not yet fully understand the mechanisms by which the symptoms of schizophrenia appear and how both vulnerabilities and stress produce them.
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Option 1: Cognition & Development (A2 only)

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Option 2: Eating Behaviour (A2 only)

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Option 2: Stress (A2 only)

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Option 3: Aggression (A2 only)

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Option 3: Addiction (A2 only)

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