double bind theory

• family dysfunction explanations of schiz view the interactions within the family as causing schiz
• family dysfunction includes the double bind theory and expressed emotion
• according to BATESON (1956) schizophrenia is a consequence of abnormal pattern in family communication
• in a double bind situation a person is frequently given mutual contradictory messages by another person
• an example of a double bind situation is

  • verbally one message maybe given but physically the opposite is conveyed
• the confusing communication places the individual in an impossible situation, causing internal conflict.
• these contradictions mean that the child struggles to create a coherent internal construction of reality which could explain the symptoms such as disorganised thought and speech
• negative symptoms like social withdrawal and flat effect may represent an attempt to escape from the double bind