3: Conflicting messages

• 1: e.g. a parent asks their child a question whilst focusing on the TV (not really listening) - the child receives two conflicting messages
• 2: the verbal component suggests care and interest while the non-verbal component suggests the child is less important than the TV
• 3: these messages affect the child's ability to respond: verbal and non-verbal messages cancel each other out, so the child can't respond effectively
• 4: the child relies on the parent's communication so they are unable to metacommunicate (can't comment on the fact that messages conflict)
• 5: Bateson suggested this is a risk factor (though not the only one)