Some positive double binds

Knotted Catenoid by Arenamontanus



I'll see if I can write a short post...

Double binds come from the work of Gregory Bateson, who hypothesized that they were often instrumental in the onset of schizophrenia. Here is a simplified set of conditions for a (negative) double bind.

1. There is an injunction form a person in a position of authority power on a someone of lesser authority or power. It may take the form 'do/don't do x or I will punish you.'

2. There is a secondary injunction that contradicts the first, and exists at a more abstract level. This might be something like 'only do x spontaneously.'

3. The secondary injunction need not be stated clearly - indeed is often more powerful if unstated.

A typical example is the tension between children and their parents. A parents says 'do what you're told, don't argue or I'll get mad.' while at the same time there is a background message of 'You need to be more independent.'

To get beyond a double bind it is helps to see not just the individual elements clearly, but also the context in which they occur. James Lawley explains this in more detail here

A positive double bind, on the other hand allows the person to have a set of injunctions that support them in a wide variety of situations, whichever choice they make. I would rather offer one of these.

Below is a short recording, based on Robert Dilt's work with sponsorship and creating positive double binds. If you want to listen to it, I suggest down loading it, and listening to it on a repeating loop with headphones. You can focus on some stuck or bound area of your life, as you listen and be curious as to how you change the way you understand.



To finish here is a positive double bind offered by Brian van der Horst at recent seminar I hosted. Whichever way you answer the question I like to think you can enjoy the answer.

Do you know how adorable you are?