A Critical Review of Research on the Conceptual Thinking of Schizophrenics

Modification of chronic schizophrenics' abstractions through enriched stimuli and social censure

“…Instead of a loss, some authors have argued that other cognitive processes, such as interference from competing responses, or tendencies to overinclude or underinclude may be more central to the schizophrenics' apparent 'Address correspondence to Helen Sonier Sullivan, Head, Residential Division, San Fernando Valley Child Guidance Clinic, 9050 Zelzah Avenue, Northridge, California 91325. loss (Storms & Broen, 1969). Lothrop (1961) has questioned whether an impairment per se is to be found in the schizophrenic's abstracting ability. He suggests that some of the research tasks currently in use might unwittingly encourage competing responses from irrelevant and extraneous stimuli.…”