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Chapter 1 Key Points:: Pragmatics of Human Communication Chapters 1-6 P. Watzlawick, J. Beavin Bavelas, & D. Jackson

This document summarizes key points from chapters 1-6 of Pragmatics of Human Communication by Watzlawick, Beavin Bavelas, and Jackson. The chapters discuss foundational concepts in family systems theory and communication including circular causality, homeostasis, complementarity, symmetry, and paradox. Communication is analyzed at both the content level and relationship level, with emphasis on observing patterns and considering the context in which communication occurs.

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Summer Allen
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107 views

Chapter 1 Key Points:: Pragmatics of Human Communication Chapters 1-6 P. Watzlawick, J. Beavin Bavelas, & D. Jackson

This document summarizes key points from chapters 1-6 of Pragmatics of Human Communication by Watzlawick, Beavin Bavelas, and Jackson. The chapters discuss foundational concepts in family systems theory and communication including circular causality, homeostasis, complementarity, symmetry, and paradox. Communication is analyzed at both the content level and relationship level, with emphasis on observing patterns and considering the context in which communication occurs.

Uploaded by

Summer Allen
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Pragmatics of Human Communication Chapters 1-6

P. Watzlawick, J. Beavin Bavelas, & D. Jackson

Chapter 1 Key Points:

 Must always consider the context in which a phenomenon and relationship occurs.
 Communication is part of the context in which phenomena & relationships occur.
 Cybernetics relate to the function of a system that regulates through feedback loops that
serve to stabilize or change homeostasis (norm of functioning for the family).
 Circular Causality refers to the idea that communication/relationship cybernetics does
not function in a linear way, one small change in the system impacts the entire system.
 In MFT we pay attention to patterns and redundancy in communication in the system.
 Client’s will self-report, but remember that this is based on their experience and through
their lens. Direct observation of communication in session is particularly helpful.
 Be mindful of what you refer to as abnormal or normal, always recalling the fact that
your family of origin’s lens, societal constructs, dominant narrative, etc. influences your
perspective of any given system.

Chapter 2 Key Points:

 It is impossible not to communicate, non-verbal is still a form of communication.


 A message is one form of communication, where a series of messages exchanged
between two people is an interaction. *These can be verbal or non-verbal.
 Report is the content or what is literally said and command is non-verbal and includes
roles of the individuals, ultimately creating the relationship. Command is also referred to
as metacommunication.
 Keep in mind that the report and command occur at the same time. Miscommunication
occurs when the the report is inconsistent with the command or if there is an
incongruence in the sender’s message and the receivers perception of that message (this
is very common). This results in patterns of miscommunication.
 Symmetrical interaction or symmetrical relationships are equal in nature (e.g., siblings,
co-workers, etc.) and often result in competitive interactions and conflict until one person
wins.
 Complimentary interaction or complimentary relationships possess distinct roles or
hierarchy (e.g., partners, supervisors, etc.). Conflict arises when distinct roles are too
rigid.

Chapter 3 Key Points:

 Various reactions in communication


o Rejection of Communication occurs when one individual refuses to engage in
verbal communication (silent treatment). However, noted from Ch. 2, there is no
way to not communicate. Therefore, rejection of communication is in fact
communication.
o Acceptance of Communication occurs when an individual engages in verbal
communication against their wishes. This results in overly-engaged verbal
commutation, non-stop talking or prying about a particular conflict, etc.
o Disqualification of Communication occurs when an individual verbally
communicates in an incoherent fashion, seems confused, invalidates another
individual, or speaks in metaphors.
o The Symptom as Communication occurs when an individual verbally
communicates that they cannot engage in verbal communication because of
something greater than themselves.
 In MFT we pay attention to the content and the metacommunication (relationship). Often,
couples/families focus on the content instead of the relationship. It is our job to do that!
 Self and Other is essential in MFT and refers to how individuals in a relationship see
themselves, define one another & themselves, and how their identity manifests in the
system. All of this occurs SEEMINGLY in a vacuum within the system. However, that is
not the case. Contextual factors from other places also impact these components of the
system.
 Confirmation of self or other in a system can provide stability and reassurance.
 Rejection of self or other can be damaging at times if it is incongruent with the perceived
reality.
 Disconfirmation occurs when on individual discounts another’s view of self. Indicating
that the individual is uncertain, lack of acknowledgement, and discounting one’s identity
altogether. (This reminds me of what we know of as gaslighting).
 We can become attached to how we see ourselves and disruption can occur when the
perception of self or other is not consistent with the other individual’s views.

Chapter 4 Key Points

 Emphasis on the relationship, not the report or literal verbal communication. Pay close
attention to process over content.
 Every system has subsystems & environments that influence the contextual factors, all of
which contribute to the homeostasis.
 Wholeness of the system refers to the concept of circular causality: lots of moving parts
and each part impacts the others. Each response to a stimulus becomes the stimulus for
the next response.
 Nonsummativity indicates that we cannot simply focus on one aspect of a system, we
must look at the core of the system, which is influences by all moving pieces co-existing
at the same time.

Chapter 5 Key Points

 Pay close attention to the timing, order, and reaction of communication patterns in a
system. Something as small as a delayed timing can shift a reaction. (Think about if you
have had an argument with someone you don’t see on a daily basis and they don’t
respond to you for quite some time…..)
 We live in a relational world. All interactions result in reactions and consequences of
some sort (note* consequence is not seen as a negative here, just something that is).
 Triangulation can occur in systems where there are subsystems of relationships.
 Unilateral view is where the system only see’s one source of the system’s problems (we
talked about the identified patient (IP).
 Symmetrical isolation refers to two individuals working to keep up with one another in a
competitive sense. This can begin to leave imprints on the identity of those in the system.

Chapter 6 Key Points

 Paradox is a contradiction (to put it very simply)


o Pragmatic Paradox occurs in a complementary relationship, something is
prescribed or ordered and expected to be followed, and the receiver of the
message cannot comment on the paradox. (Think power structures).
o Nearly impossible to escape a pragmatic paradox due to the hierarchy and the
inability to confront the contradiction in an capacity. Example may be a child who
is in trouble for doing something they were told to do by their parent. The parent
won’t allow the child to speak about the situation, so the child has no choice but
to accept the punishment.
 Double bind occurs when there is a relationship between two or more people, a
dependence exists, a message is sent that is contradictory, but the receiver cannot react
(similar to pragmatic paradox). However, the receiver’s inability to react is due to the fact
that there is no correct way to react. No matter what they do, the sender will have a
problem.
 Longstanding and chronic double bind communications become patterns and norms in
systems.

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