Abstract
M.A. (Psychology)
Communication patterns were studied in four families, each possessing
an identified schizophrenic member'.
Traditional and current concepts about schizophrenia and various theories
about communication were reviewed. Adistinction was made between
healthy and pathological communication. The family as a communicational
unit was discussed in the light of general systems theory.
An extensive survey of family studies of schizophrenia was undertaken.
From this review of research three general questions emerged on which
the hypotheses of this study are founded. The questions are:
(a) To what extent is pathological communication found in families
with an identified schizophrenic member?
(b) To what extent is the absence of healthy communication found in
these families?
(c) What indications can be found that the combination of different
communication patterns is unique for each of these families?
In this thesis healthy communication is defined as the presence of
adequate levels of empathy, warmth and congruence among the family
members. These levels were measured on three rating scales measuring
empathy, warmth and congruence respectively.
Pathological communication is delineated here as the effort to avoid the
definition of relationships, coupled with enmeshment between family
members and the unclear definition of power relations in the family.
This communication was measured by a process analysis of the family's
interaction.
The results of the measurements of healthy and pathological communication
were taken together to assess whether different combinations of
communication patterns could be found when the families were compared
with each other...