Pragmatics of Human Communication: A Study of Interactional Patterns, Pathologies, and Paradoxes

288 Pages·1967·12.196 MB·English

by  Paul Watzlawick, Janet Helmick Beavin, Don D. Jackson

Pragmatics of
Human Communication
A Study of Interactional Patterns,
Pathologies, and Paradoxes
. Paul Watzlawick, Ph.D.
Janet Helmick Beavin, A. B.
Doti D. Jackson, M. D.
MENTAL RESEARCH INSTITUTE,
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA
w .
W . NORTON &: COMPANY· INC,
Copyright ® 1967 by w. W. Norton 8< Company. Inc.
Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 67-11095
All Rights Reserved
Published simultaneously in Canada by
George J. McLeod Limited. Toronto
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right ® 1962 by Edward Albee. Reprinted by pennission of the author and
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Copyright for all materials from the journal Psychiatry is held by the William
Alanson White Psychiatric Foundation.
Excerpts from Marriage Lines by Ogden Nash. by permission of Little, Brown
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The material from Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell. by permission of
Harcourt, Brace Be World, Inc.; and Martin Seeker Be Warburg Ltd. Copyright, 1949
by Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc. Reprinted by pennission of Brandt Be Brandt.
The story "Subjugation of a Ghost" is originally from Zen Flesh) Zen Bones
by Paul Reps. Copyright 1957 Charles E. Tuttle Co. Rutland, Vt. & Tokyo. Japan.
For quotation from a review by Howard Taubman © 1962 by The New York
Times Company. Reprinted by permission.
ISBN 0 393 01009 0
Printed in the United States of America
9
To Gregory Bateson;
Friend and Mentor

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION I J
Chapter 1 The Frame of Reference I9
1.1 Introduction I9
1.2 The Notion of Function and Relationship 2J
1.3 Information and Feedback 28
1.4 Redundancy J2
1.5 Metacommunication and the Concept of Calculus J9
1.6 Conclusions 4J
1.61 . The Black Box Concept 4J
1.62 Consciousness and Unconsciousness 44
1.63 Present versus Past 44
1.64 Effect versus Cause 45
1.65 The Circularity of Communication Patterns 46
1.66 The Relativity of "Normal" and "Abnormal" 46
Chapter 2 Some Tentative Axioms of Communication
2.1 Introduction
2.2 The Impossibility of Not Communicating
2.21 All Behavior Is Communication
2.22 Units of Communication (Message, Interaction,
Pattern) 50
2.23 The Schizophrenic Attempts Not to Communicate 50
2.24 Definition of the Axiom 5I
2.3 The Content and Relationship Levels of
Communication
2.31 "Report" and "Command" Aspects
2.32 Data and Instructions in Computer Work
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CONTENTS
2.33 Communication and Metacommunication 53
2.34 Definition of the Axiom 54
2.4 The Punctuation of the Sequence of Events 54
2.41 Punctuation Organizes Behavioral Sequences 54
2.42 Different "Realities" Due to Different
Punctuation 56
2.43 Bolzano's Infinite, Oscillating Series 58
2.44 Definition of the Axiom 59
2.5 Digital and Analogic Communication 60
2.51 In Natural and in Man-Made Organisms 60
2.52 In Human Communication 6I
2.53 The Uniquely Human Use of Both Modes 62
2.54 Problems of Translation from One Mode into
~O~ ~
2.55 Definition of the Axiom 66
2.6 Symmetrical and Complementary Interaction 67
2.61 Schismogenesis 67
2.62 Definition of Symmetry and Complementarity 68
2.63 Metacomplementarity 69
2.64 Definition of the Axiom 69
2.7 Summary 70
Chapter 3 Pathological Communication 72
3.1 Introduction 72
3.2 The Impossibility of Not Communicating 72
3.21 Denial of Communication in Schizophrenia 73
3.22 Its Converse 74
3.23 Wider Implications 75
3.231 "Rejection" of Communication 75
3.232 Acceptance of Communication 75
3.233 Disqualification of Communication 75
3.234 The Symptom As Communication 78
3.3 The Level Structure of Communication (Content and
Relationship) 80
3.31 Level Confusion 80
3.32 Disagreement 82
3.33 Definition of Self and Other 83
3.331 Confirmation 84
3.332 Rejection 85
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CONTENTS
3.333 Disconfirmation 86
3.34 Levels of Interpersonal Perception 90
3.35 Imperviousness 9I
3.4 The Punctuation of the Sequence of Events 93
3.41 Discrepant Punctuation 94
3.42 Punctuation and Reality 95
3.43 Cause and Effect 96
3.44 Self-Fulfilling Prophecies 98
3.5 Errors in the "Translation" Between Analogic and
Digital Material 99
3.51 The Ambiguity of Analogic Communication 99
3.52 Analogic Communication Invokes Relationship IOI
3.53 The Lack of "Not" in Analogic Communication I02
3.531 Expression of "Not" Through Nonoccur-
rence I03
3.532 Ritual I04
3.54 The Other Truth Functions in Analogic Com-
munication I05
3.55 Hysterical Symptoms As Retranslations into the
Analogic I06
3.6 Potential Pathologies of Symmetrical and
Complementary Interaction I07
3.61 Symmetrical Escalation I07
3.62 Rigid Complementarity I08
3.63 The Mutually Stabilizing Effect of the Two
Modes IIO
3.64 Examples IIO
3.65 Conclusions II7
Chapter 4 The Organization of Human Interaction II8
4.1 Introduction II8
4.2 Interaction As a System II9
4.21 Time As a Variable
I20
4.22 Definition of a System
I20
4.23 Environment and Subsystems
I2I
4.3 The Properties of Open Systems
I23
4.31 Wholeness
I23
4.311 Nonsummativity
I25
4.312 Nonunilaterality
I26
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CONTENTS
4.32 Feedback I26
4.33 Equifinality I27
4,4 Ongoing Interactional Systems 129
4,41 Ongoing Relationships I29.
4.411 Description versus Explanation 130
4.42 Limitation 131
4.43 Relationship Rules 132
4.44 The Family As a System 134
4,441 Wholeness 134
4.442 Nonsummativity 135
4.44.3 Feedback and Homeostasis 139
4.444 Calibration and Step-Functions 147
4.5 Summary 148
Chapter 5 A Communicational Approach to the Play
WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? 149
5.1 Introduction 149
5.11 Plot Synopsis 150
5.2 Interaction As a System 152
5.21 Time and Order, Action and Reaction 153
5.22 Definition of the System 153
5.23 Systems and Subsystems 155
5.3 The Properties of an Open System 156
5.31 Wholeness 1;6
5.32 Feedback 1;8
5.33 Equifinality 1;8
5,4 An Ongoing Interactional System 160
5,41 George and Martha's "Game" 160
5,411 Their Style 168
5.42 The Son 172
5.43 Metacommunication Between George and
Martha 179
5.44 Limitation in Communication 183
5.45 Summary 18;
5,451 Stability r85
5.452 Calibration r86
5.453 Recalibration 186 .
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CONTENTS
Chapter 6 Paradoxical Communication I87
6.1 The Nature of Paradox I87
6.11 Definition I88
6.12 The Three Types of Paradoxes I89
6.2 Logico-Mathematical Paradoxes I90
6.3 Paradoxical Definitions I92
6.4 Pragmatic Paradoxes I94
6.41 Paradoxical Injunctions I94
6.42 Examples of Pragmatic Paradoxes I95
6.43 The Double Bind Theory :JI I
6.431 The Ingredients of a Double Bind :JI2
6.432 The Pathogenicity of the Double Bind 2IJ
6.433 Its Connection with Schizophrenia 215
6.434 Contradictory versus Paradoxical
Injunctions 2I5
6.435 Behavioral Effects of Double Binds 217
6.44 Paradoxical Predictions :JI9
6.441 The Headmaster's Announcement 2I9
6.442 The Disadvantage of Clear Thinking 221
6.443 The Disadvantage of Trusting 22]
6.444 Undecidability 224
6.445 A Practical Example 224
6.446 Trust-the Prisoners' Dilemma 226
6.5 Summary 229
Chapter 7 Paradox in Psychotherapy 2JO
7.1 The Illusion of Alternatives 2JO
7.11 The Wife of Bath's Tale 2JO
7.12 Definition· 2JI
7.2 The "Game Without End" 2J2
7.21 Three Possible Solutions 2J4
7.22 A Paradigm of Psychotherapeutic Intervention 235
7.3 Prescribing the Symptom 236
7.31 The Symptom As Spontaneous Behavior 2J6
7.32 On Symptom Removal 2J8
7.33 The Symptom in Its Interpersonal Context 2J9
7.34 A Brief Review 2J9
7.4 Therapeutic Double Binds 240
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