IC80 Interaction Hour 02 - Special Interaction Hour II - Paul Watzlawick, PhD; John Weakland; and Richard Fisch, MD
- Average Rating:
- Not yet rated
- Topic Areas:
- Interaction Hours | Special Topics | Psychotherapy
- Categories:
- Erickson Congress | Erickson Congress 1980
- Faculty:
- Paul Watzlawick, PhD | John Weakland | Richard Fisch, MD
- Duration:
- 45:02
- Format:
- Audio Only
- Original Program Date:
- Dec 07, 1980
- License:
- Never Expires.
Description
Outline
Opening Remarks & Announcements
Dr. Paul Watzlawick’s Stories
- Shares a humorous World War II story about a “Kush maker.”
- Tells a case of a couple at the emergency room where the wife’s anger escalates the situation.
- Discusses a Frank Pittman case where a family intervention temporarily succeeds but ultimately fails due to deeper issues.
Dr. Richard Fisch’s Case Study
- Presents a case of a 10-year-old boy obsessed with botulism, leading to a restrictive diet.
- The mother’s reassurances fail, and a pediatrician recommends therapy.
- Dr. Fisch’s intervention: The mother exaggerates food contamination risks, prompting the boy to resume normal eating.
Dr. John Weakland’s Reflections
- Expresses confusion about the interaction hour’s format and position statements.
- Reflects on his research background, emphasizing simplicity in problem-solving.
- Discusses how crises often seem sudden but are usually predictable.
Discussion on Therapy Techniques
- A participant asks about the 10-year-old’s case; Dr. Fisch explains how shifting the mother’s response led to success.
- Dr. Watzlawick notes that changing the interaction pattern helped resolve the conflict.
- Dr. Fisch highlights that arguing escalates issues, while behavioral prescriptions help overcome fear.
Final Thoughts & Questions
- Dr. Weakland and Dr. Fisch stress the importance of expanding choices for patients.
- A question is raised about supernatural influences in crises.
- A lighthearted suggestion is made to rename Squaw Peak to Mount Purple.
- Panelists reflect on different perspectives in problem-solving and the role of responsibility in crises.
Credits
Faculty
Paul Watzlawick, PhD Related Seminars and Products
Paul Watzlawick, received his Ph.D. from the University of Venice in 1949. He has an Analyst's Diploma from the C.G. Jung Institute for Analytic Psychology in Zurich. Watzlawick has practiced psychotherapy for more than 30 years. He was research associate and principal investigator at the Mental Research Institute. He was Clinical Professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University Medical Center. Watzlawick is a noted family therapist; he is recipient of the Distinguished Achievement Award from the American Family Therapy Association. Also, he is author, co-author or editor of eight books on the topics of interactional psychotherapy, human communication and constructivist philosophy.
He formulated five axioms. They are:
- It is not possible to not communicate. Every behavior is some kind of non-verbal communication.
- Every communication has a content. In addition, there is 'metainformation', which says how the communicator wants to be understood.
- All partners involved in a communication process also interpret their own behaviour during communication.
- Human communication involves both verbal and non-verbal communication. In addition to the spoken words, there are is also a non-spoken part (gestures, behavior, intonation..) which is part of the communication.
- Communication between humans is either symmetric or complementary. This is based on whether the relationship of those communicating is based on differences or parity.
Richard Fisch, MD Related Seminars and Products
RICHARD FISCH, MD, is a psychiatrist in private practice; consultant to the San Mateo County Juvenile Probation Department and Director of the Brief Therapy Center at the Mental Research Institute. Dr. Fisch has co-authored Change - Principles of Problem Formation and Problem Resolution and The Tactics of Change - Doing Therapy Briefly. He is recipient of awards for family therapy from AFTA and AAMFT.