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Melanie Hall
in order to improve the lives of those diagnosed with it. There are numerous
information about the link between behavior and learning has been discovered.
Even more there is much information about the functionality and efficacy of utilizing
modification programs used two examples are shaping and token economies. These
that is conducive to successful communication and has been shown to work even in
those 6 subjects 5 maintained their reacquired speech when checked a year later
impairments should not be undermined but this therapy is not one that could be
used alone. This is especially true if a hope for patients is to receive care that will
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Token economies and schizophrenia. Employing token economies is
another use of the paradigm of operant learning for the sake of modifying behavior
staff must first pair a neutral stimulus with a primary reinforcer to create a token
and then use that token to positively reinforcement target behavior. Acquiring
patients and time wise should be given in close proximity to the occurrence of the
hygiene and social interaction and a reduction in apathy (Dickerson, Tanhula, and
Green-Paden, 2005). Token economies were used in hospital settings which leaves
many of the implications derived from their results unexplored in regards to the
societies.
easy answer is no. Not only is behavior modification not successful in and of itself
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schizophrenia treatment (Dixon, Dickerson, Bellack, Bennet, and Dickenson, 2009).
in desperate need of being able to benefit from them. Beyond the lack of
there are not many other conditions that have been researched as much as
to use the disease model as a sole perspective when researching the condition
Acknowledging this concern can lead to a greater capacity to develop new areas of
discussed and these are undiscovered strengths associated with schizophrenia and
conducted since WWII schizophrenia has been analyzed through the lenses of the
disease model psychology is all too familiar with. After WWII two of three goals of
psychology: making the lives of all people more productive and identifying and
nurturing and fulfilling high talent were unfortunately weeded out. What was left
it should be clear that overuse of one model is systematically going to create bias in
research. Given what is known about concepts such as learned helplessness and
self fulfilling prophecy it does not seem like such an oddity that the prevalence of
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resulting. One begins to wonder if this has become a witch hunt of sorts. These
last statements do sound extreme but this should not immediately discredit the
questions.
the idea that schizophrenia could be theorized under a “non-disease” model. Just as
quickly there is a follow-up statement expressing the implausibility of this idea. This
is precisely the lack of variability that is going to result when the disease model
reigns. Quickly writing off the option of moving away from using only the disease
model shows a lack of curiosity and creativity that should be innate in research and
science. To fully approach such an idea is exactly the outlet needed for new
undermined. Equally necessary though is not giving so much attention to short term
stagnate in a sense. Even more, advances in technology do not translate and should
not be mistaken for advances in research. If the technology that comes along, for
example with neuroscience, is used only as tools serving the disease model then
outcomes could be quite the opposite of advancement. This biased approach could
lead to more information to load the stigma that those living with schizophrenia
already face. Societal stigmas lead to self stigma’s which have been shown to
2007; Lamb, 2009). A magnanimous amount of effort has been put into changing
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PORT about the inefficacy of these efforts in lieu of diagnosis and treatment means
it is time to stop reinforcing the behavior of these efforts. This does not mean stop
typical research entirely but to at the very least start reinforcing those who change
In Genes for Psychosis and Creativity, the investigator explores the possibility
of a relationship between psychosis genes and something other than psychosis. Keri
predicts that the neuregulin 1 gene, whose T/T expression has so far only been
associated with psychosis, may have a beneficial expression, creativity. Keri did
indeed find a correlation between increased creativity scores and the T/T genotype
(Keri, 2009). This approach is a prime example of the kind of perspective change
that may need to occur to assist with a genuine advance in schizophrenia research.
under the sole auspice of the disease model there is at least the responsibility to
curiosities about the impact of the disease model on frames of thought and the
prophecy and learned helplessness would imply no, they don’t have a chance. If
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those doing research to find those strengths, validate and nourish them. This could
result in much greater progress in individuals and ultimately society. A question for
future behavioral research could examine the likelihood that certain behavioral
to their going against possible unique behavior systems. If such a thing is true this
the most important stimuli that shape the behavior of people with schizophrenia