Double bind theory

• Bateson

  Proposed that symptoms of SZ were the result of communication difficulties in the family, but particularly between parents and children.
• Conflicting messages

  Child repeatedly exposed to social interactions where there are 2 conflicting messages & the child doesn’t know how to respond.

  Child receives mixed messages & finds themselves trapped in situations where they fear they are doing the wrong thing but are too scared to seek clarification. This means the child cannot respond effectively.
• How this leads to SZ

  Long term exposure to mixed messages means that the child learns to perceive the world in terms of contradictory input. They internalise the contradictory messages leading to internal conflict.

  This then manifests in the form of hallucinations & delusions as a method to escape the internal conflict caused by double bind.