Cultural Problems Posed by a Study of Schizophrenic Process

The article represents the abstract of lecture of 1958 which contains the hypotheses by members of Project of schizophrenic communication study which included Gregory Bateson, Jay Haley, John Weakland, Don D. Jackson and William Fry. The approach of system stable condition and its’ mechanism is described and the concept of double bind is explained as a dilemma of self-preservation in situations of both from within and without. Applying this approach to a family with a schizophrenic patient G. Bateson pointes out the threats which come from his interpersonal relationships and its consequence for the patient and his relatives. Theoretical and methodological issues of this approach for other disciplines in social science are discussed.

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