# Resources https://psychology.fandom.com/wiki/Double_bind_interaction https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s41469-017-0015-0 --- # Examples - Mother telling her son: "You must love me." *The primary injunction here is the command itself; the secondary injunction is the unspoken demand that the child must love the mother genuinely, of its own accord.* - Zen koan: "Be genuine" or "Who are you?" *Argued by [Watts](https://psychology.fandom.com/wiki/Alan_Watts "Alan Watts") to be the underlying theme of all Zen koans, the idea here is to present to the roshi (master) your true self. The more the student tries, the phonier they are, and even the act of not trying is just another version of trying.* - "You must be free." *Freedom is the ability to be spontaneous and do whatever you want; to be told that you _must_ do this means that you are conforming to a commandment that _orders_ you to express a state of freedom. (An extreme example of this is the New Hampshire state slogan, "Live Free Or Die," which also veers into the realm of Hobson's choice).* - Mother to son: "Show your relatives how you play." *Child play is a spontaneous process that the child does of its own accord; to be _forced_ to play is not play. This is very similar to the double bind: "You must be free."* - Child-molester to child: "You should have escaped from me on a previous occasion, now it's too late - because now nobody will believe you that you didn't consent to whatever I have done to you" while at the same time preventing any of the child's previous attempts to escape by various means. - "You should enjoy playing with the children, just like other fathers" *Same as the double bind between the mother and son.* --- - “Please acquire as many new clients as possible for the new product before it is released but make absolutely sure not to reveal any information about the product before it is released on the market.” - “Your budget was cut by fifty percent during the last management meeting and two of the specialists working on your team will leave at the end of this month. However, we expect quicker results of an even higher quality than you delivered last time.” - “Do more with less (resources, manpower, time, budget…).” - “We are a large team, but only individual achievements are rewarded.” - “Show initiative, but never dare question, scrutinise or criticise our system.” - “Our staff are the most valuable asset our firm possess; unfortunately we will have to let go one third of all employees by the end of the year in order to face the current market strains.” - - “Help your teammates, **_but_** you’ll get fired if you do not perform effectively.” - “We need help to adapt (to new markets, new products…), **_but_** nothing must change.” - “Give me a transparent and truthful report, **_but_** I want you always to be positive.” - “Our product’s quality is the most important asset, **_but_** we must make sure to deliver on time even though the product’s quality criteria might not yet be met. - “I want you to take risks, **_but_** you will be responsible (and fired) when you fail.” - “Be innovative, **_but_** do not dare to break our rules.” - “Contribute your own experience, **_but_** everything was already decided upfront by others.” - “You are fully responsible for the project, **_but_** you are not given any leeway for any decision on your own.” # Threats of punishment The following phrases are often used as threats of punishment for not obeying a double-blind order: - “_I have made myself absolutely clear. You are just incapable of understanding what I am saying._” ➩ Meaning: “You are so stupid!” “_Why did you not fulfil order “A” as I have told you to do?”_ ➩ Meaning: You are so insubordinate! - “_What on earth led you to the idiotic idea that I could have meant order “B”.”_ ➩ Meaning: You must be completely insane!