Cognitive approach to James Cole's schizophrenia.

Cognitive approach;

Three key assumptions of the Cognitive approach:
- That behaviour can be largely explained in terms of how the mind operates.
-That the mind works in a manner that is similar to a computer; inputting, storing and retrieving data.
-That psychology is a science; based mainly on lab experiments.

The Cognitive approach to James Cole's schizophrenia:
- the mind works similar to a computer; James Cole is good at observing and remembering- his mind stores information.
- James has a programmed delusional schema, which is used to protect himself from reality.

Prognosis; He will begin to get worse, as his delusions are being encouraged, and the environment he's in is not going to help him.

Therapeutics:
-Change his environment.
-Give him a way to help break out of his delusions.

Psychology task; Neurophysiology

The neurons in the highest part of the brain are the most sophisticated; they are capable of making the most connections and carrying the signals down the brain quicker than all of the others. Neurons are simpler signals which transfer information slower. (Information transfer is also done by hormones.)

When the action potential (difference in voltage) is large enough, neurotransmitters (E.g. dopamine, serotonin and GABA) are released into the synapses; if enough neurotransmitters are released, they will bind to the receptor sites in the closest axon terminal. Once the neurotransmitters have been released into the synapses, and the action potential has faded, the transmitting axon terminal begins to absorb the neurotransmitter from the synapse. This process of recycling is called Re-uptake; however, too much re-up take stops neurotransmission.

The Dopamine Hypothesis; In a nut shell, the hypothesis is that too much Dopamine causes positive symptoms of schizophrenia, and that not enough Dopamine causes negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

Psychology tasks.

Is schizophrenia genetic?
The table shows that it is more likely for someone to have schizophrenia if a first degree relative has it; especially if both of a child's parents are schizophrenic, there is also a higher risk of identical twins both having it. This implies that schizophrenia can be genetic, or that there is a hereditary vulnerability to it.

What is the Dopamine Hypothesis and how can it explain the major clinical characteristics of schizophrenia?

 Some anti-psychotic drugs work by stopping dopamine activity and reduce the effects of schizoprehenia, but  L-dopa (a naturally occuring vitamin like substance)  can affect the activity of the brain and result in symptoms of schizophrenia in people who formly didn't suffer this, and weren't formly psychotic.
This has been shown in studies of things like amphetamines and LSDs which also affect the dopamine system; the findings from the studies were that these too caused symptoms of schizophrenia in people without it and that they can worsen symptoms in those vulnerable to it.
It has also been found that although anti-psychotic drugs have a positive effect on positive symptoms (dellusions, thought control, etc) they fail to do the same for negative symptoms (lack of control of body, lack of motivation and emotion, etc.)

Do you think Nash's case supports the idea that schizophrenia is a matter of nurture rather than nature?

Evidence has mainly shown that Schizophrenia is determined by nature; a genetic factor, but there are mainly explanations and approaches to looking at it. It's been shown that people can have a genetic vulnerability to schizophrenia. E.g. Parents having schizophrenia, and their children may be more likely to have it. However,  as shown in a Beautiful mind; stress can have negative effects on the symptoms of schizophrenia and result in both them, and the delusions taking a stronger hold of the person suffering it.

Sociology tasks.

Four types of religious organisation:

-Sects are break away groups from a pre-existing religion. E.g. Branch Davidians.
-Cults are a religious or spiritual organisation, that have not had any previous religious histories; unlike Sects they aren't break away groups, they are a group which is created. E.g. Heavens Gate.
-Churches are large, formal religious institutions where people go to worship and practice religion. E.g. St. Mary's church. Churches believe that they are the only religious institutions that someone should be involved in.
-Denominations are smaller, but still formal religious institutions which were developed from sects which were breakaway groups from the main church. E.g. the Protestant church breaking away from the Catholic church.

The term Evangelical refers to a Christian religion which is based on the teachings of the four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) in the New Testament.

Millenarian refers to a belief that the world works on a thousand year cycle, and that belief that things may change after that time limit. E.g. Christian's believe, that as mentioned in the book of John,
the second coming would occur after a thousand years or more.

Heresy refers to an idea which goes against the conventional belief of the religion that you belong to. E.g. A member of the Catholic Church who had pro-abortion beliefs.

The term Orthodoxy refers to a belief or or religion that is authorised and accepted by the majority of the group.

Three things I've learnt:
- The different types of Cults;
Client cults are  more organised, and more intensive opportunity for involvement and practice).
Audience cults have with less opportunity for involvement and practice, which is based on attracting a range of people interested in  range of mystical things like horoscopes.)

-The definitions of Churches, Denominations, sect and cults.
- And the differences each of these.