TY - JOUR
T1 - Expressed emotion, attributions, and schizophrenia symptom dimensions
AU - Weisman, Amy G.
AU - Nuechterlein, Keith H.
AU - Goldstein, Michael J.
AU - Snyder, Karen S.
PY - 1998
Y1 - 1998
N2 - Using a sample of 40 Anglo American family members of schizophrenic patients, the present study replicates and lends cross-cultural support for an attribution-affect model of expressed emotion (EE). Consistent with attribution theory, the authors found that highly critical relatives (high- EE) viewed the illness and associated symptoms as residing more within the patient's personal control as compared with less critical relatives (low- EE). A content analysis classified the types of behaviors and symptoms most frequently criticized by relatives. Symptoms reflecting behavioral deficits (e.g., poor hygiene) were found to be criticized more often than symptoms reflecting behavioral excesses (e.g., hallucinations). In line with an attribution-affect framework, relatives may be less tolerant of behavioral deficits because they are viewed as intentional, whereas behavioral excesses are easily recognized as core symptoms of mental illness.
AB - Using a sample of 40 Anglo American family members of schizophrenic patients, the present study replicates and lends cross-cultural support for an attribution-affect model of expressed emotion (EE). Consistent with attribution theory, the authors found that highly critical relatives (high- EE) viewed the illness and associated symptoms as residing more within the patient's personal control as compared with less critical relatives (low- EE). A content analysis classified the types of behaviors and symptoms most frequently criticized by relatives. Symptoms reflecting behavioral deficits (e.g., poor hygiene) were found to be criticized more often than symptoms reflecting behavioral excesses (e.g., hallucinations). In line with an attribution-affect framework, relatives may be less tolerant of behavioral deficits because they are viewed as intentional, whereas behavioral excesses are easily recognized as core symptoms of mental illness.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0031863868&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0031863868&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1037/0021-843X.107.2.355
DO - 10.1037/0021-843X.107.2.355
M3 - Article
C2 - 9604565
AN - SCOPUS:0031863868
VL - 107
SP - 355
EP - 359
JO - Journal of Abnormal Psychology
JF - Journal of Abnormal Psychology
SN - 0021-843X
IS - 2
ER -