An ethological model of schizophrenia--a preliminary investigation

A working ethological model of schizophrenia was formulated on the basis of biological studies of social behavior in animals and the epidemiological and pertinclinical studies on schizophrenia in humans. It was proposed that fundamental social failures noted in relation to schizophrenia might be based on developmental defects involving intraspecific aggression and bio-social tendencies such as territoriality leading to inability to develop social bonds, structure social relations and flexibly perform various roles required for adaptive functioning in human society. Some of its implications were studied by comparing the premorbid life styles of a group of schizophrenics at their best and those of a were of healthy matched controls. The measurements made using a specially designed life style assessment scale. Significant differences in the profiles were obtained, with the patients generally doing worse than the controls. The most conspicuous were differences in items such as aggression-passivity, dominance hierarchy, social bond formation, anti-social behavior and general sociability. The data suggested premorbid failures of patients to structure social relations through adaptive aggression, bond formation and territorial behavior. Particularly noteworthy was the maladaptive overt aggressivity in patients. No significant difference was found in psycho-sexual functioning. These data were considered as consistent with the proposed hypothesis.