1. Discuss how behavior disorders develop (according to the Group and Communication Theorists). First, rigid stereotype roles lead to behavior disorders. Early theorists believed in symmetry. Husbands and wives only do specific tasks and do not help each other. Second, a breakdown in communications (verbal and nonverbal) lead to behavior disorders. Third, blocked channels for giving and receiving support. Unresolved grief can cause this. The theorists believed that the behavior disorders came from the parents. Lyman Wynne found that the severity of the parental psychopathology was directly correlated with their communication patterns.

2. Discuss the six forms of bad pathological communications in schizophrenic families. These forms were found by the Palo Alto group. First is denying that one is communicating. People need to help each other in the communications process, not fight it or ignore it. Second is disqualifying another person's messages. One way is by saying that they are wrong. It can even be done at a metacommunications level. Third is sending confusing levels of communication. One can say something at one level and then disagree at another. Fourth is symmetrical escalation and competitiveness, where the couple are always competing with each other at the communications level. This can verbal and nonverbal, and it can also be very unhealthy. Fifth is rigid complementarity, which is always communicating in exactly the same way. In this case, more symmetry is needed and less rigidity. Sixth is paradoxical communication (double bind). A paradox is a contradiction that follows correct deduction from logical premises.

3. Discuss the goals of group and communication therapists. First is to promote individuation of family members. Second is to improve family relationships and help members relate better. Third is wanting to promote expression. Therapists wanted their clients to sit down and start talking. Fourth is understanding unmet needs of families and individuals. Fifth is trying to expand rigid or confining roles.

4. Discuss the techniques of the group and communication theorists. They used direct and indirect intervention. Under direct there were five techniques. First was the use of active intervention (therapists were actively participating and encouraging members to speak and set boundaries). Second was to passively describe the family interactions. Third was deemphasizing hierarchies and emphasizing communications. Fourth was making family rules more explicit. Fifth was teaching members clear forms of communications. Therapists educated members to use "I" statements, to avoid using "should", and to use consistent language. The single indirect intervention was paradoxical directives. The therapist might encourage the family to argue twenty times in the next week rather than ten, but the hope is that the family really would not argue at all.

Most of the group and communication theories were incorporated into the other family therapy theories. Also, these techniques were more couple-oriented than family-oriented.

				Tom of Bethany

Back To TLEE's Home Page

Index to Selected Essays And Book Reviews