An individual with schizophrenia usually displays three kinds of symptoms. First, positive symptoms are best explained as excesses in perception. To elaborate, positive symptoms include delusions and hallucinations. Delusions are maintained ideas or beliefs regardless of the fact that evidence has proven them to be false. Specifically, delusions can include the belief that your own thoughts are being controlled or even inserted into your brain by an external force. Other common delusions of schizophrenia are delusions of grandeur where people believe they have great power or importance. For example, individuals with schizophrenia may believe that they are Jesus Christ and have been put here on Earth to save the world. Hallucinations are the
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Lower SES is known to co-occur with high amounts of psychological stress due to financial and social strains. Researchers propose that this stress may be related to the onset of schizophrenia. Two theories attempt to pinpoint the specific relationship between stress and schizophrenia: the sociogenic hypothesis and the social selection theory. The sociogenic hypothesis predicts that stress resulting from low SES may indeed be what causes or influences the development of the disorder. The social selection theory, however, states that the inability to work and obtain a stable income due to the many debilitating aspects of schizophrenia may be what causes them to live with a low SES. Evidence from research studies supports the social selection theory more than the sociogenic …show more content…
Enlarged ventricles in the brain have been observed in many with the disorder, implying that the two are related. The enlargement of the ventricles implies that there is a loss of gray matter in other areas of the brain. One particular brain area believed to have undergone such damage is the prefrontal cortex, which is essential for goal-oriented behavior and decision-making. It is to be noted, however, that MRIs did not show a decreased number of neurons in this brain area, but rather a reduction of dendritic spines responsible for connecting different neurons. Researchers believe this is what may cause symptoms of disorganized nature. FMRIs also confirmed reduced metabolic activity in the prefrontal
Lower SES is known to co-occur with high amounts of psychological stress due to financial and social strains. Researchers propose that this stress may be related to the onset of schizophrenia. Two theories attempt to pinpoint the specific relationship between stress and schizophrenia: the sociogenic hypothesis and the social selection theory. The sociogenic hypothesis predicts that stress resulting from low SES may indeed be what causes or influences the development of the disorder. The social selection theory, however, states that the inability to work and obtain a stable income due to the many debilitating aspects of schizophrenia may be what causes them to live with a low SES. Evidence from research studies supports the social selection theory more than the sociogenic …show more content…
Enlarged ventricles in the brain have been observed in many with the disorder, implying that the two are related. The enlargement of the ventricles implies that there is a loss of gray matter in other areas of the brain. One particular brain area believed to have undergone such damage is the prefrontal cortex, which is essential for goal-oriented behavior and decision-making. It is to be noted, however, that MRIs did not show a decreased number of neurons in this brain area, but rather a reduction of dendritic spines responsible for connecting different neurons. Researchers believe this is what may cause symptoms of disorganized nature. FMRIs also confirmed reduced metabolic activity in the prefrontal