PSYC 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 28: Psychodynamics, Mental Disorder, Twin
Document Summary
Strong genetic component, but not all monozygotic twins become schizophrenic: this suggests that postnatal influences may be important. However, studies of dichorionic vs. monochorionic monozygotic twins have suggested that monochorionic twins are 6x more likely to both be schizophrenic: monochorionic twins- share a placenta, dichorionic twins- do not share a placenta. The results from monochorionic twins suggest that prenatal influences might be the most important. This epidemiological data suggest that this prenatal influence might be viral. All of the factors (season, population density, stress) might all lead to an increased chance of a pregnant woman contracting a viral illness. The assumption with all psychoanalytic approaches is that there is some underlying conflict, some root cause that gives rise to all of the symptoms of a psychological disorder. These conflicts must be uncovered and dealt with during therapy. Find the causes and you treat the disorder.
