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FAMILY THERAPY: Strategic and Ecosystemic Approaches COPYRIGHT AND CITATION CONSIDERATIONS FOR THIS THESIS/ DISSERTATION o Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. o NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes. o ShareAlike — If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same license as the original. How to cite this thesis Surname, Initial(s). (2012) Title of the thesis or dissertation. PhD. (Chemistry)/ M.Sc. (Physics)/ M.A. (Philosophy)/M.Com. (Finance) etc. [Unpublished]: University of Johannesburg. Retrieved from: https://ujdigispace.uj.ac.za (Accessed: Date). FAMILY THERAPY: Strategic and Ecosystemic Approaches by ROLENE HOVSHA Dissertation submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree MASTER OF ARTS in CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY in the FACULTY OF ARTS at the RAND AFRIKAANS UNIVERSITY Supervisor: Dr M.F. Joubert --------__0 JUNE 1990 Family Therapy: Strategic and Ecosystemic Approaches - Acknowledgements - I wish to express my appreciation to- My husband, Michael for his patience and constant support. My supervisor, Dr Marietjie Joubert for agreeing to undertake supervision of this study in spite ofan already pressuredschedule. Her patientguidance, encourage­ ment and genuine interest is appreciated. My colleague, Anne lunsky, for her valuable assistance in editing the script. The Rand Afrikaans University and the Human Sciences Research Council for providing financial assistance which made these years of study possible. The opinions expressed in this study are those of the writer and in no way reflect the opinions of the Rand Afrikaans University or the Human Sciences Research Council. -i- Family Therapy: Strategic and Ecosystemic Approaches -Abstract- As family therapy has gained acceptance as a treatment modality within the mental health field, increasing attention has been directed towards theory development. With the focus on theoretical issues, including that of epistemol­ ogy, a division has arisen between strategic and ecosysternic approaches to family therapy. Thisstudy was undertaken in order to examine the nature of thisdebate. The work of Jay Haley was chosen as representative of the strategic approach, and that of Bradford Keeney as representative of the ecosystemic approach to family therapy. The study proceeded on the assumption that fundamental differences exist between the two approaches, which reflect the difference between a lineal and a non-lineal epistemology. In order to place the study in context, the historical development of the family therapy field was reviewed and the conclusion was reached that family therapy represents a method of conceptualising human behaviour, which isdiscontinuous with previous conceptualisations, and which parallels similar shifts in other disciplines. The concept of epistemology within the family therapy field was explored. The lack of claritywhich continues to characterise the use of this term within the field, may be attributed, at least in part, to its confusing use by influential writers in the field. The underlying assumptions, central theoretical concepts and methodology of both Haley's strategic therapy and Keeney's cybernetic epistemology, were delineated and the two approaches were then compared along a number of critical dimensions. The investigation established significant conceptual differences between the two approaches and the conclusion was reached that these differences reflect essen­ tial epistemological differences. While Keeney's ecosystemic approach is consis­ tent with a non-lineal epistemology, Haley's approach continues to reflect an underlying lineal epistemology. , I ! I 1'1 -ii- Family Therapy: Strategic and Ecosystemic Approaches - Opsomming- 500s wat gesinsterapie aanvaar word as behandelingsmodaliteit binne die gees­ tesgesondheidsveld, het die ontwikkeling van teorie meer en meer aandag begin geniet. Met die klem op teoretiese vraagstukke, insluitend die van epistomologie, het 'n skeiding onstaan tussen die strategiese en ekosistemiese benaderings tot gesinsterapie. Hierdie studie is onderneem juis om die aard van die skeiding te ondersoek. Die werk van Jay Haley is gekies as verteenwoordigend van die strategiese benadering terwyl die van Bradford Keeney gekies is as verteenwoor­ digend van die ekosistemiese benadering tot geginsterapie. Datdaarwel basieseverskilletussen dietwee benaderings bestaan, watdieverskil tussen 'n liniere en nle-liniere epistomologie weerspieel, word gebruik as vertrek­ punt vir die studie. Ten einde die studie binne konteks te plaas, word die geskiedkundige ontwik­ kelingvan die gesinsterapieveld onder die soeklig geplaas. Die outeur het tot die volgende gevoltrekkinggekom: Gesinsterapie is 'n metode van konseptualisering van menslike gedragwatverskil van vorige konseptualiseringspogings, en wat baie na is aan soortgelyke skuiwings binne ander dissiplines. Die konsep van epistemologie soos gebruik in gesinsterapie word noukeurig ondersoek. Die gebrek aan duidelikheid wat die gebruik van hierdie term nog steeds binne hierdie studieveld karakteriseer, kan gedeelteliktoegeskryf word aan die verwarrende gebruik daarvan deur gesaghebbende skrywers in die veld. Die onderliggende veronderstelling, sentrale teoretiese konsepte en metodologie van beide Haley se strategiese terapie en Keeney se kibernetiese epistemologie word gedefinieer waarna die twee benaderings met mekaar vergelyk is in terme van 'n aantal kritiese dimensies. Die ondersoek het aansienlike konseptuele verskille tussen die twee benaderings aan die liggebring. Bogemelde ondersoek het gelei tot die gevolgtrekking dat die verskillewesenlike epistemologiese verskilleweerspieel. Terwyl Keeneyse ekosis­ temiese benadering met die nie-liniere epistemologie strook, weerspieel Haley se benadering nog steeds 'n onderliggende liniere epistemologie. -iii- Family Therapy: Strategic and Ecosystemic Approaches - Table of Contents - page Chapter 1 - Introduction Chapter 2 -Historical Overview 2.1 Introduction 4 2.2 Change in Scientific Paradigms 4 2.2.1 Periods of "normality" 4 2.2.2 The emergence of Alternative Paradigms 4 2.3 Family Therapy As Paradigmatic Revolution 5 2.3.1 Psychoanalysis and the Medical Model 5/ 2.3.2 Research as the Impetus for Family Therapy 5 2.4 The Emergence of Family Therapy within Context 6 2.4.1 The Newtonian World View 6 2.4.2 Psychotherapy within a Newtonian Paradigm 6 2.4.3 The New Science 7 2.4.4 Psychotherapy within an Alternative Paradigm 7 204.5.- General SystemsTheory 8 2.5 The Contribution of Gregory Bateson 8 2.5.1 Implications of the Double-Bind Research 8 eJ Expansion ofthe Family Therapy Paradigm 9 Early Researchers in Family Therapy 9 G22.7.1 lidz 9 2.7.2 Murray Bowen 10 2.7.3 lyman Wynne 11 2.8 The Contribution of Nathan Ackerman 12 Family Therapy: Strategic and Ecosysfemic Approaches 2.8.1 Social Role 12 2.8.2 Complementarity, Conflict and Prejudicial Scapegoating 13 2.8.3 View of Pathology 13 2.8.4 Goal and Process of Therapy 14 2.8.5 Roles of the Therapist 14 2.8.6 Methodology 14 2.8.7 Theoretical Inconsistency in Ackerman's Position 14 ~ The Development of the Family Therapy Field 15 , 2.9.1 The Decade of the 1950's 15 2.9.2 Family Therapy in the 60's and 70's 15 2.9.3 The Current Status of Family Therapy 16 2.9.4 The Issue of Epistemology and Family Therapy 16 Chapter 3 -Epistemology 3.1 Introduction 18 3.2 Defining "Epistemology" 18 3.2.1 Definition of the Term within the Family Therapy Field 18 3.2.2 Epistemology, Ontology and Metaphysics 19 3.2.3 "Epistemology" as distinct from "Theory" and "Paradigm" 19 3.3 Epistemology and Family Therapy 19 3.4 Bateson and Epistemology 20 3.4.1 Use of the Term "Epistemology" in Bateson's Work 20 3.4.2 Epistemological Errors 22 3.5 Keeney's View of Epistemology 22 3.5.1 Drawing Distinctions 22 3.5.2 Observation and Description 23 Family Therapy: Strategic and Ecosystemic Approaches 3.5.3 Punctuation 23 3.6 Critique of Keeney's Position 23 3.7 Conclusion 23 Chapter 4 --The Strategic Approach 4.1 Introduction 25 4.2 Definition 25 4.3 Influences on Haley's Work 26 4.3.1 Early Influences 26 4.3.2 The Work of Milton Erickson 26 4.4 The Double Bind Project 26 4.4.1 The Impetus for the Project 26 4.4.2 The Directive of the Project 27 4.4.3 The Investigation of Schizophrenic Communication 27 4.4.4 Conflict in levels of Message and Paradox as a Basis for Schizophrenia 27 4.4.5 The Concept of Family Homeostasis 28 4.4.6 Towards a Theory of Schizophrenia 28 ! 4;4.7 The Concept of the Double Bind 28 4.4.8 Applications of the Double Bind Theory of Communication 29 4.4.9 Direct Observation of Schizophrenic Families in Interaction 29 4.4.10 Critique of the Double Bind Theory 29 4.4.11 An Interpersonal Context for the Double Bind 30 4.4.12 Haley's Organizational Model of the Schizophrenic Family 30 4.4.13 Trance Induction and the Issue of Control 31 l Family Therapy: Strategic and Ecosysfemic Approaches 4.4.14 Summary: Implications of the Double Bind Project for Psychotherapy 31 4.5 Assumptions Informing Haley's Work 32 4.5.1 Introduction 32 4.5.2 Criteria for a Theory of Therapy 32 4.5.3 Ideas which Handicap Therapists 33 4.5.4 Power 34 4.5.5 Organization and Hierarchy 34 4.5.6 Sequencesof Behaviour 35 4.6 Theoretical Concepts 35 4.6.1 Introduction 35 4.6.2 Behaviour in an Interpersonal Context: Defining Relationships 35 4.6.3 Levels of Communication 36 4.6.4 Interpersonal
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