EP95 Workshop 10 - To Teach a Different "Game," or: "Prescribing" Instead of Interpreting - Paul Watzlawick, PhD

Description:

Human problems can be seen as "games without end; " that is, as recurring behaviors based on the continuous application of rigid rules, but devoid of rules for the change of these rules. What are such "meta-rules" and how can they be introduced?

Educational Objectives:

1. To sketch briefly the fundamental contributions of Ludwig Wittgenstein, Gregory Bateson and Milton H. Erickson to this subject. 
2. To present specific interventions (behavior prescriptions, therapeutic double-binds, positive connotations, reframing, and the "illusion of alternatives," etc.,) by means of case descriptions, taped examples and role plays.  

*Sessions may be edited for content and to preserve confidentiality*

Outline:

Evolution of Psychotherapy and Modern Science

• Modern science is not about discovering ultimate truths but about developing useful techniques

• Inspired by Wittgenstein: the goal is to teach a different game, not reveal “truth”

• Gregory Bateson introduced new ideas about causality through work at Menlo Park VA Hospital

• Bateson’s approach emphasized the behavioral effects of communication in human interaction

Gregory Bateson's Influence and Family Therapy

• Bateson studied human relationships anthropologically, including mental patient behavior

• His work helped spark family and systemic therapy

• Causality illustrated through an example: a stone hitting a sleeping dog

• Bateson was interested in Milton Erickson’s techniques, influenced by his father’s strategies

Corrective Emotional Experiences and Spontaneous Change

• Change often happens through unplanned corrective emotional experiences

• Example: a couple with reduced sexual frequency benefited from a spontaneous behavioral shift

• Direct behavior prescriptions can help clients overcome self-imposed limitations

• Constructivism is key to understanding how limitations shape perceived reality

Radical Constructivism and Reality of the First and Second Order

• Radical constructivism: we can only know what reality is not

• Distinction between first-order reality (sensory) and second-order reality (meaning, value)

• Example of a father and son carrying a donkey used to illustrate second-order meaning

• Mental Research Institute explored how meaning is attributed and constructed

Self-Fulfilling Prophecies and Reframing

• Self-fulfilling prophecies can catalyze therapeutic change

• Examples: Oedipus and the Oracle; panic from a fake toilet paper shortage

• Reframing used in therapy and literature (e.g., Tom Sawyer and the fence)

• Reframing changes perception and unlocks new behavior

Direct Behavior Prescriptions and Paradoxical Prescriptions

• Direct prescriptions help break entrenched patterns (e.g., act stupid in public)

• Paradoxical prescriptions elicit spontaneity through contradiction

• Examples include a woman told to deny things to everyone as an intervention

• These techniques challenge rigid patterns through surprise and irony

Positive Connotation and Complementary Relationships

• Positive connotation redefines the problem as the best possible situation

• Used to shift symmetrical (conflictual) dynamics into complementary ones

• Examples: psychiatrist tells patient the current state is optimal

• Complementary relationships explored through mother/child and doctor/patient dynamics

Therapeutic Applications and Educational Applications

• Direct, paradoxical, and positive interventions shown to have wide therapeutic value

• Example: a woman unable to say no is given a task to create a “no” situation

• Questions raised about applying these methods in educational settings

• Importance of case-specific detail emphasized in designing effective interventions

Challenges and Ethical Considerations in Therapy

• Challenges working with potentially violent clients and ethical considerations

• Techniques include reframing threats and naming the seriousness of the situation

• Debate over whether paradoxical work operates in fantasy or reality with violent clients

• Authenticity and resilience in the therapist are critical for successful outcomes

Discussion and Practical Applications

• Discussion with audience includes handling trust issues and violent behavior

• Emphasis on knowing the full context of each case before intervening

• Interest expressed in expanding research into educational applications of these techniques

Language of Science and Injunctive Language

• Classical science used indicative language; modern approaches focus on injunctive (do this)

• George Spencer Brown and Henri Poincaré cited on the shift in scientific communication

• Injunctive language essential in fields like math, cooking, and therapy

• Hypnosis and therapeutic suggestions use this action-oriented language

Client Language and Hypnotic Techniques

• Understanding the client’s perceptual language (visual, kinesthetic, etc.) prevents failure

• Examples show how matching sensory language increases hypnotic effectiveness

• Therapists must speak to the client’s second-order reality (meaning systems)

• Couples therapy technique from Anatol Rapoport used to break escalation cycles

Avoiding Negations and Creating Illusions

• Avoid negations in hypnosis (e.g., don’t say “don’t be afraid”)

• Use positive formulations and alternative illusions to guide attention

• Techniques like confusion and worst-fantasy can elicit client insights

• Stories and metaphors engage the right brain and bypass resistance

Interventions for Procrastination and Decision-Making

• Interventions include setting negative deadlines and redefining tasks

• Devil’s pact technique forces decision-making under uncertainty

• Asking clients how they could make things worse can yield surprising insight

• Includes case example: a young man with relationship anxiety

Benevolent Sabotage and Client Compliance

• Benevolent sabotage disrupts negative behavior patterns (especially in teens)

• Examples: locking windows, creating deliberate messes to provoke change

• Language adaptation remains key for therapeutic compliance

• Session ends with Q&A on effectiveness and ethical concerns of these interventions