Gregory Bateson: Schismogenesis Flashcards
How dis Bateson (1936:175) define schismogenesis?
‘…a process of differentiation in the norms of individual behaviour…
…resulting from cumulative interaction between individuals.’
Effects of schismogenesis
Which three effects are, according to Bateson (1936:187) likely to accompany the distortion of personalities observed in schismogenesis?
- A hostility in which each party resents the other as the cause of its own distortion
- An increasing inability to understand the emotional reactions of the other party (at least in complementary schismogenesis)
- Mutual jealousy
What’s this?
“…a process of structured interaction in which two opposed entities produce a situation of increased differentiation.”
Schismogenesis
as defined in Encyclopedia of Social and Cultural Anthropology (Barnard and Spencer 1996)
How does Barnard and Spencer define Bateson’s concept of compelmentary schismogenesis?
“…a situation where one party’s behaviour reinforces the other party’s different reaction (e.g. the more oneparty is assertive, the more the other party is submissive).”
How do Barnard and Spencer define symmetrical schismogenesis?
“…the interaction of two parties who react in the same way to each other (e.g. boasting on one side producing intensified boasting on the other).”
An intense relationship
How does Bateson define an ‘intense relationship’
A relationship…
…in which he feels it is vitally important that he discriminate accurately what sort of message is being communicated…
…so that he may respond appropriately.
How will a (normal) person respond when caught in a double bind situation?
(Bateson 1972:209)
He will:
- respond definseively in a manner similar to th schizophrenic
- take a metaphorical statement literally when he is in a situation…
- where he must repsond
- where he is faced with contradictory messages, and…
- when he is unable to comment on the contradictions
